Who is Claire Brosseau? Canadian actress decides to die by assisted suicide due to maniac depression; is she eligible for Canada’s MAiD program

Claire Brosseau, acclaimed Canadian actress and comedian, said that she will die by assisted suicide. The 48-year-old actress, who was diagnosed with manic depression at the age of 14, said that she failed to overcome her mental illness. According to News.com.au, Brosseau said that she developed her illness as a teenager after a binge involving drugs, alcohol, and sex.

Born in Montreal, Canada, Brosseau was identified as having anxiety, chronic suicidal ideation, an eating disorder, a personality disorder, substance abuse disorder, PTSD, and a slew of other mental health conditions at a young age, News.com.au reported.

Brosseau made several attempts to die by suicide

The Canadian actress, in an open letter on her Substack earlier in 2025, revealed that she had made several suicide attempts. She also said she received treatment from psychiatrists, psychologists, and counsellors all across America. Various medications, therapies, and guided psychedelics have all failed to improve her mental health.

According to the New York Times, the 48-year-old actress has made several attempts to die by suicide. She has overdosed on drugs and cut her wrists. Once she deliberately ate peanuts to trigger her severe allergy, hoping to die of anaphylaxis.

What is Canada’s Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) program.

Brosseau, in 2021, took a decision to apply for euthanasia under Canada’s Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) program. The program allows people with “grievous and irremediable medical conditions” to end their lives with the assistance of a doctor, according to reports.

Why is Brosseau not eligible?

Brosseau currently does not have access to MAiD, and things possibly will not change for her till 2027. If a patient’s illnesses are solely mental health-related, they are not yet eligible for MAiD, according to news.com.au.

The restriction was due to end in March 2023 but has been delayed twice, with the actress now unlikely to have access to MAiD until 2027. The actress has now filed a complaint with the Ontario Superior Court alleging genuine rights violations.

“I had a great place to stay, and I was doing well on the film, and I was having fun on set, and every night I would go back to my hotel, and I would bawl and scream and rip my clothes apart. And cry and just—I wanted to kill myself, and I couldn’t wait to get out of there. And then the next day at work, I’d be fine, and I’d have so much fun,” she told the NY Times:

The Canadian actress is now suing the Canadian government for the right to die alongside former war correspondent John Scully, who suffers from PTSD.

Claire Brosseau: Battle with depression and drugs

At the age of 16, Brosseau completed her graduation and joined an elite drama college in Quebec. She studied theatre performance for two years at the college before shifting to New York City. During her days in the United States, she studied at the Neighbourhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, News.com.au reported.

Later, when depression again took a toll on her, she saw herself struggling to eat and catch hold of her emotions with booze and drugs. In her early 20s, Brosseau flew back to Montreal and was hospitalized for several months, according to reports. After her mental health improved, she began to appear on screen and stage again.

Brosseau played roles on Entertainment Tonight Canada and The Strombo Show, a radio show hosted by Canadian broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos. She reportedly became a part of TV projects with James Franco and Daniel Stern and also acted in commercials in Los Angeles.