Engaging Children in Conversations About Loss With the Help of a Canadian Activity Book

In Canada, the practice of medically assisting patients in dying has been legal since 2016. Patients who have been diagnosed with serious diseases or disabilities—including mental illnesses, starting in March 2024—may meet the requirements to seek medically assisted suicide. As a result of this legalization, medical and ethical communities have expressed concerns regarding those who assist their loved ones in the process of dying. To date, little has been written about how children react when someone close to them decides to end their life due to unbearable suffering. In July 2022, the Canadian Virtual Hospice group published the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Activity Book as a tool to help children navigate the traumatic experience of loss. This article inquires as to whether this activity book can provide a new and helpful approach to supporting children through the process of understanding death. It considers whether offering them answers and clear explanations, instead of regarding death as taboo, can mitigate the psychological impacts of losing someone.