Editor shares personal loss and calls for assisted suicide options for severe mental illness

Torie Bosch, an editor at STAT, recounts the repeated suicide attempts of her mother, culminating in her death in 2016. She describes the ongoing cycle of crises, hospitalizations and the emotional toll on the family.

Bosch reflects on how she monitored her mother’s behavior, even using her Netflix viewing habits as a clue to her mental state. The personal narrative highlights the desperation felt when conventional mental health interventions seemed insufficient.

The essay argues that for some individuals, severe psychiatric conditions can become terminal, and that medical aid in dying should be considered as an option. Bosch hopes that broader discussion and policy changes could provide relief for families facing similar tragedies.

While the piece is an opinion rather than a report of new data, it underscores a growing debate within the medical community about extending assisted suicide laws to include psychiatric illnesses.