A new suicide prevention hotline, 988 helplines, was launched on November 30th, with an easy-to-remember phone number and easy access. You can call or text 988 for a free consultation. Available from anywhere in Canada, 7 days a week.
988 can be used not only by the person contemplating suicide but also by those around them, and only English and French are supported. There are currently more than 1,000 staff members trained in suicide prevention counseling who receive counseling.
Children, teens, and Indigenous people will be allocated separate services. Hearing-impaired people can consult through sign language interpretation services.
The hotline has introduced security controls to protect personal information so that callers can talk with peace of mind.
In addition, those seeking advice can decide for themselves how much personal information to disclose. According to PHAC, approximately 4,500 people in Canada take their own lives each year, or 12 people a day.