I lived with suicidal ideation. I am very glad to be here today.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition received the following letter from Elizabeth, a woman who lived with suicidal ideation and is very glad to be alive. Elizabeth opposes euthanasia for mental illness.

Back in 2012, I had multiple chronic health conditions and had failed completely again at getting and holding down a job after moving to a larger city with some money from family to try to find work I could actually do. I needed the disability benefit, but didn't have it. I'd already been denied once for it in 2010, and applied again in 2012 and suspected I wouldn't get it. I have generalized anxiety disorder and depression that was severely aggravated by my financial troubles and inability to support myself, and I started having panic attacks and cutting myself, as well as not eating enough and becoming underweight with dizzy spells. I felt like a burden and had suicidal ideation, though I didn't try to kill myself.

A few months later I finally got the letter back about the disability benefit. I was convinced I'd be denied again, and had to read it through twice before I realized it was approved. It totally changed my life, and I am very glad to still be here today, even if I still can't support myself financially by working due to health issues and live with chronic pain and still struggle with depression and anxiety at times. Your worth as a human being and right to live doesn't depend on whether you can earn a living, and there are other ways to contribute to society even if you can't earn a paycheck.

This was before MAID was legal. I already felt like a burden and was struggling with suicidal ideation to the point I was cutting myself without society offering me social sanction for dying, suggesting I should do so, and offering to help me while making it easier and faster than applying for disability. That would have made my mental health struggles so much worse.

Elizabeth

EPC supports Bill C-218 which is a private members bill, that was sponsored by Tamara Jansen (MP) to prevent euthanasia for mental illness alone in Canada. EPC urges Canadians to sign our petition in support of Bill C-218. (Petition Link).