Actress, 48, seeks medical aid in dying after decades of untreatable mental illness

A 48-year-old Canadian actress and comedian has spoken publicly about her decision to seek medical aid in dying after living for decades with severe and persistent mental illness, reigniting debate over how assisted-dying laws should address psychological suffering.

The actress, Claire Brosseau, said she has experienced serious mental health challenges since adolescence and has spent most of her life undergoing treatment. Over the years, she has tried numerous medications, therapies and medical interventions, but says none have provided lasting relief.

Brosseau applied for Canada’s Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) program in 2021. Under current Canadian law, the program allows assisted death for people with grievous and irremediable medical conditions, but mental illness on its own is not yet an eligible criterion. The government has delayed expanding eligibility to include mental illness until at least 2027, a timeline Brosseau has said feels out of reach for her.

In public statements, Brosseau described her daily life as one marked by overwhelming psychological distress and exhaustion. She said her decision is not impulsive, but the result of many years of reflection, medical consultation and lived experience.

Medical professionals involved in her care do not all agree on the path forward. One psychiatrist has expressed concern and believes improvement may still be possible, while another has said she understands Brosseau’s position and respects her autonomy, regardless of the outcome.

Brosseau’s story has drawn attention to broader questions about how society supports people with long-term mental illness, where the limits of medical treatment lie, and whether assisted-dying laws should eventually include psychiatric conditions.

The issue remains deeply controversial in Canada and beyond, with advocates emphasizing compassion and choice, while critics warn about risks and the need for stronger mental-health care systems.