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Cited by 7Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesPalliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesPalliative and Oncologic Care

Medical Assistance in Dying for Mental Illness as a Sole Underlying Medical Condition and Its Relationship to Suicide: A Qualitative Lived Experience-Engaged Study: Aide Médicale à Mourir Pour Maladie Mentale Comme Seule Condition Médicale Sous-Jacente et Son Lien Avec le Suicide: Une Etude Qualitative Engagée Dans l’Expérience Vécue

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Hawke, Lisa D., Bastidas-Bilbao, Hamer, Cappe, Vivien, van Kesteren, Mary Rose, Stewart, Donna E., Gupta, Mona, Simpson, Alexander I. F., Campbell, Bartholemew H. +3 more·2024·The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1177/07067437231209658PMC PMC11032095
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This lived experience-engaged study aims to understand patient and family perspectives on the relationship between suicidality and medical assistance in dying when the sole underlying medical condition is mental illness (MAiD MI-SUMC). METHOD: = 16.0) participated in qualitative interviews examining perspectives on MAiD MI-SUMC and its relationship with suicide. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. People with lived experience were engaged in the research process as team members. RESULTS: Four main themes were developed, which were consistent across individuals with mental illness and family members: (a) deciding to die is an individual choice to end the ongoing intolerable suffering of people with mental illness; (b) MAiD MI-SUMC is the same as suicide because the end result is death, although suicide can be more impulsive; (c) MAiD MI-SUMC is a humane, dignified, safe, nonstigmatized alternative to suicide; and (4) suicidality should be considered when MAiD MI-SUMC is requested, but suicidality's role is multifaceted given its diverse manifestations. CONCLUSION: For patient-oriented mental health policy and treatment, it is critical that the voices of people with lived experience be heard on the issue of MAiD MI-SUMC. Given the important intersections between MAiD MI-SUMC and suicidality and the context of suicide prevention, the role that suicidality should play in MAiD MI-SUMC is multifaceted. Future research and policy development are required to ensure that patient and family perspectives guide the development and implementation of MAiD MI-SUMC policy and practice.

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  • Families of individuals who pursued MAiD described less stigma and milder bereavement compared with those whose relatives died by unassisted suicide.

    “Families of individuals who pursued MAiD described less stigma and milder bereavement compared with those whose relatives died by unassisted suicide.”

    From Medical Assistance in Dying for the Sole Underlying Condition of Mental Disorder (MAiD MD-SUMC): an analysis and qualitative evidence synthesis (2026) · cites this paper as [56]

    The Discussion (page not provided) reports another study in which partners of people who died by MAiD had better emotional outcomes than partners of people who died by suicide. The Results (page not provided) say participants perceived MAiD as less stigmatized, including for surviving family members. This paper does not show that families of people who pursued MAiD themselves described both less stigma and milder bereavement. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Cited by

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Authors
Hawke, L. D., Bastidas-Bilbao, H., Cappe, V., van Kesteren, M. R., Stewart, D. E., Gupta, M., Simpson, A. I. F., Campbell, B. H., Castle, D., Stergiopoulos, V., & the MAiD Study Team at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Affiliations
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • University Health Network (CA)
  • Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CA)
  • University of Tasmania (AU)
Corresponding author
Hawke, Lisa D.
ORCID
Venue
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2023-10-26
Volume
69
Issue
5
Pages
314-325
ISSN
  • 0706-7437 (ISSN-L)
  • 1497-0015
DOI
10.1177/07067437231209658
PMC
PMC11032095
OpenAlex
W4387965476
Cited by
7
References
12
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 4
FWCI
2.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry (Suicide Studies Fund)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
Keywords
medical assistance in dying, mental illness, suicidality, suicide, patient perspectives, family perspectives, lived experience, suicide prevention, end-of-life decisions, mental health policy
MeSH terms
Adult, Mental Disorders, Canada, Doxorubicin, Humans, Medical Assistance, Middle Aged, Nuclear Family, Suicide, Suicide, Assisted

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