VANCOUVER - Maya Cassady, a 17-year-old high school student, tragically took her own life on March 30, 2023, just two months before her graduation. Hours before her death, Maya accessed her mental health records through a freedom of information request. The documents included medical terminology and diagnoses that had never been discussed with her or her mother, Hilary Cassady.

Hilary Cassady has since become an advocate for youth mental health, emphasizing the risks associated with young people obtaining their medical records without proper guidance. She believes that Maya misinterpreted the information in her records, leading her to feel that her mental health condition was untreatable. "Bottom line: Maya may still be here today if she had not received that report," Cassady stated, asserting that the report was a significant factor in her daughter's decision to end her life.

Maya's case was recently highlighted in the B.C. Legislature by Green Party legislator Jeremy Valeriote, who supported Cassady's call for professional support for teens accessing their medical records. In British Columbia, individuals can request their health records without parental consent starting at age 12.

Hilary Cassady first learned of her daughter's mental health struggles in September 2020 when Maya called a suicide crisis line. Following that call, Maya was admitted to an inpatient facility. Cassady suspects that during her stay, Maya learned how to file a freedom of information request for her records.

The request focused on Maya's four-day hospitalization at Lions Gate Hospital in February 2023, following an acetaminophen overdose that was considered an impulsive suicide attempt. Friends reported seeing Maya reading the FOI documents and searching for terms related to her diagnosis during her ferry commute to school. She died later that day.

"She had given up hope when she felt that her diagnosis was untreatable — that was the response when she Google searched some of the terminology in the report," Hilary said. After Maya's death, Cassady reviewed her daughter's phone and found searches related to her mental health, including questions about the longevity of persistent depressive disorder and terms like "axis II traits" and "bd-ii," which refers to bipolar II disorder.

Maya's medical chart classified her admitting diagnoses as "chronic dysthymia vs unspecified depressive disorder" and noted that she was "not acutely suicidal." Cassady stated that while Maya had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, many terms in her chart were never discussed with them, including a potential undiagnosed borderline personality disorder.

Jonny Morris, CEO of the B.C. division of the Canadian Mental Health Association, acknowledged the importance of access to health records but raised concerns about the maturity of minors in interpreting such information. He stated, "The information in those records are ours. It's our information, and that's a really protected and important thing."

The B.C. Health Ministry reported receiving 310 requests for personal records under provincial legislation in the past five years, but did not provide an age breakdown. Judy Illes, a professor of neurology at the University of British Columbia, questioned why individuals feel compelled to make FOI requests instead of discussing their concerns with their care teams.

The B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons emphasized that doctors must maintain clear records of patient interactions and diagnoses. The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of B.C. stated that there is no set age for minors to request their medical records, but the capacity of the minor must be evaluated.

Cassady is advocating for a system where teenagers requesting their medical records are accompanied by a professional who can help interpret the information. She believes this could prevent misunderstandings that may lead to tragic outcomes. "Teens want control over their treatment and want to understand what is happening to them," she said.

Despite her efforts over the past two years to seek clarity and reform, Cassady feels progress has been slow. She continues to push for changes to ensure that no other families experience the same loss as hers.