Discussion · Government Orders
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Québécois
“We need to focus our efforts on mental health care and prevention to save lives. When someone with mental illness asks for medically assisted dying, it is a cry for help. They will not be allowed to receive it, so asking gives us a chance to care for them instead of losing them to suicide.”
“Mr. Speaker, I did not have time to expand on prevention and the potential to save lives. Many of my colleagues have said that, when it comes to mental health in particular, we should start by putting all our efforts and energy into the service delivery networks. Yes, there are shortcomings. Imagine a loved one saying that they are going through an unbearable situation and they are going to request MAID. That person is sending a cry for help in the face of suffering. I am very sensitive to the issue of suicide. It may sound crazy to say, but if the person makes that request, rather than committing an irreversible act, that is, killing themselves, they have a better chance of getting through the crisis. That person will be cared for, because they will obviously not be eligible for MAID, and they will not fall through the cracks.”
Mr. Speaker, I did not have time to expand on prevention and the potential to save lives. Many of my colleagues have said that, when it comes to mental health in particular, we should start by putting all our efforts and energy into the service delivery networks. Yes, there are shortcomings. Imagine a loved one saying that they are going through an unbearable situation and they are going to request MAID. That person is sending a cry for help in the face of suffering. I am very sensitive to the issue of suicide. It may sound crazy to say, but if the person makes that request, rather than committing an irreversible act, that is, killing themselves, they have a better chance of getting through the crisis. That person will be cared for, because they will obviously not be eligible for MAID, and they will not fall through the cracks.