Undergraduate Students' Attitudes Towards Medical Assistance in Dying for Mental Illness.

This article focuses on a study examining undergraduate students' attitudes toward medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for mental illness in Canada, particularly in light of the upcoming legal change in March 2024 allowing individuals with a mental illness as their sole underlying condition to request MAiD. Among 71 students surveyed, over half were unaware of this legal change, and less than one-third supported MAiD access for those receiving treatment for mental illness, with even fewer supporting access for those waiting for treatment. Participants commonly expressed that treatment should be attempted first before considering MAiD, reflecting concerns about the treatability of mental illness and the adequacy of mental health resources. The study highlights a gap in awareness and mixed opinions among young adults regarding MAiD for mental illness, emphasizing the need for further research with larger and more directly affected populations.