CANADA TO LAUNCH SUICIDE CRISIS LINE STARTING IN FALL NEXT YEAR
Aug 31, 2022
By Bob Komsic
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Canadians in need of immediate mental health or suicide prevention support will be able to call a new emergency crisis number beginning the end of November 2023.
Those calling 988 will be connected to a mental health crisis or suicide prevention service, for free.
The Public Health Agency will decide which group will provide the service, along with the scope of care it will offer.
The U.S. just launched its 988 service last month, but the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission says it has to first transition to 10-digit local dialing across the country.
Service providers have until May 31, 2023 to do so.
Until then, the CRTC points out those in mental health distress can call Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566.