In July, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $156 million over three years to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) for the implementation and operation of 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline, building on their experience delivering Talk Suicide Canada.

Today, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction and Associate Minister of Health, announced that Kids Help Phone has signed a service agreement with CAMH and will join the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline network. Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to young people in English and French. Kids Help Phone will provide specialized support to young people who reach out to 9-8-8.

As of November 30, 2023, 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline will be available in English and French, 24 hours a day and seven days a week, to everyone in Canada. The 9-8-8 service will offer trauma-informed and culturally appropriate suicide prevention services and will be delivered by trained crisis responders using best practices, procedures and protocols. Implementation and delivery of the 9-8-8 service will continue to be informed by ongoing engagement with provinces and territories, and organizations representing populations most affected by suicide.

By joining the 9-8-8 network, partners will continue to provide support to their communities, both through their existing crisis services and by taking calls and texts from 9-8-8. When someone reaches out to 9-8-8, wherever possible, they will be connected to the responder that is closest to them, based on their area code. A robust national Hub will provide additional capacity, taking calls and texts when a local responder is not available.

While work is underway to implement 9-8-8, people in Canada continue to have access to Talk Suicide Canada, which offers bilingual crisis and suicide prevention support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Talk Suicide can be reached at 1-833-456-4566 by phone, and by text (in the evenings) at 45645. Residents of Quebec can call 1-866-277-3553, text 535353, or visit suicide.ca for support by online chat. People in Canada can also find support from their local crisis or distress lines. Young people across Canada, including children, teenagers and young adults, can also reach out to Kids Help Phone for mental health support by phone, at 1-800-668-6868, or by text, at 686868.

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calls and texts to 9-8-8 will be directed to a mental health crisis or suicide prevention service, free of charge.

The implementation of 9-8-8 as an easy-to-remember three-digit number will help reduce barriers to mental health and suicide prevention resources. The number will enable greater access regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status as it will be available from coast to coast, 24/7 and free of charge. Furthermore, the ability to text to 9-8-8 will ensure that people in crisis who are unable to safely call, or prefer texting, are able to obtain counselling.

In order for 9-8-8 to function across Canada, 10-digit dialing must first be introduced in areas where 7‑digit dialing is still the norm. This includes Newfoundland and Labrador, northern Ontario and the Yellowknife area. The CRTC is requiring service providers to complete the transition to 10-digit local dialing in these areas by May 31^st, 2023.

Once the transition is complete, service providers will have six months to make the necessary changes to their networks to enable callers to dial or text 9-8-8.

This will ensure that 9-8-8 is launched across Canada at the same time, on November 30^th, 2023.

Currently, people in Canada who are experiencing mental health distress can obtain assistance through Talk Suicide Canada by dialing toll-free 1-833-456-4566. Residents of Quebec are encouraged to call 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553).

Assistance is also available through text. Adults can text 741741 and youth can text 686868. Quebec residents can text 1-855-957-5353. Talk Suicide Canada’s text service is available in the evenings from 4:00 p.m. to midnight EST by texting 45645.

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“The work that the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle (BANAC) is undertaking with support from the OTF Grow Grant is crucial in helping to promote life and deliver culturally informed suicide prevention in native communities and across the region. This unique program addresses difficult topics through the use of traditional teachings and cultural crafting workshops,” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte. “Gathering Our Bundles addresses the unique needs of Indigenous individuals, while honouring their cultural traditions. I am grateful to OTF for their funding support of this incredible work.”

Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Primary Care Team, with clinics in both Barrie and Orillia, has been able to support life promoting initiatives throughout the region through the life promotion team, Gathering Our Bundles: Life Promotion Initiatives. Funds from the three-year long grant are being used to help with staffing, develop program materials, conduct training activities, host workshops and assist with some administrative costs as well.

“The increased rate of mental illness and addictions has grown substantially, especially over the past two years and even more so among Indigenous people with higher suicide rates among youth,” said Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North. “There is an urgent need for the provision of culturally safe services and traditional healing programs as an integral part of care and suicide prevention for Indigenous people. I am thrilled to see BANAC receive such vital funding for their Gathering Our Bundles: Life Promotion Initiatives.”

This team seeks to promote life by developing and delivering culturally informed suicide prevention through wellness journey programs, traditional teachings and cultural crafting workshops. To learn more about Gathering Our Bundles programming, visit the Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin website at mamaway.ca/gathering-our-bundles.

“The OTF funding brings us the opportunity to connect the socially isolated and reach further into our communities to create more life promotion opportunities,” says Lynn Monague-Sauve, Board President, Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle. “We’ve seen how important the work of life promotion is here, and we are continuing that work that was started”.

Gathering Our Bundles: Life Promotion Initiatives is hosting “Life Promotion Month” from April 16 to May 16, 2022. It opened with a soft launch on March 30 with keynote speaker Waneek Horn-Miller, Indigenous activist and Canadian Olympic Athlete, where she shared her story of resilience from Trauma to Triumph. A line up of the month guest speakers can be found at mamaway.ca/events/ including registration links to attend events virtually.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non‐profit sector. In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non‐profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID‐19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

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The national association for suicide prevention in Canada, the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP), has decided to build on the theme of International Day for People Impacted by Suicide Loss Day and further recognize those impacted by suicide loss by declaring November as the Month for People Impacted by Suicide Loss.

The Month for People Impacted by Suicide Loss will allow all individuals who have lost someone to suicide, no matter whether they consider themselves bereaved by suicide, a survivor of suicide loss, or any other term that reflects their loss experience, to become involved with an array of activities and events focused on increasing engagement and building awareness.

“By CASP recognizing that a month-long awareness event for people impacted by suicide loss is needed, it allows those individuals, often suffering in silence or alone, to have their stories heard” says Sean Krausert, Executive Director of CASP. “Eliminatiing stigma and talking about suicide by the people left behind allow not only for healing but for further education and advocacy in the name of suicide prevention and life promotion.”

Throughout November, CASP will host an array of awareness activities for those who have been impacted by suicide loss, including honouring the International Day for People Impacted by Suicide Loss, hosting an event for group facilitators of suicide bereavement support groups, and launching a social media awareness campaign.  For a full list of planned virtual activities and events, please refer to the CASP website: www.suicideprevention.ca

The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) envisions a Canada without Suicide. Since 1985, CASP has worked towards the achievement of its mission by advocating, communicating, and educating for suicide prevention, intervention, postvention and life promotion in Canada.

SOURCE Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention

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World Suicide Prevention Day is sponsored by the IASP and held on Sept. 10 each year. It gives people across the world a chance to show their support for suicide prevention and survivors while also remembering those lost to suicide. The IASP and the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) are encouraging people to light a candle near a window at 8 p.m. in honour of those affected by suicide.

“World Suicide Prevention Day has been recognized since 2003 and is a chance for everyone to join in promoting understanding about suicide: those impacted by a suicide attempt or loss, family or friends, charitable organizations, professionals, politicians, volunteers, and community members,” said an online statement from the CASP. “You can do your part by lighting a candle in your window at 8 p.m. to recognize all lives impacted by suicide.”

Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in Canada with about 4,000 Canadians dying by suicide each year, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, although published data underestimates the total number of deaths by suicide, due in part to stigma. It’s the second leading cause of death for children and young adults, and it’s estimated that for every suicide death, there are 25 to 30 attempts.

“You can make a difference –  as a member of society, as a child, as a parent, as a friend, as a colleague or as a neighbour. There are many things that you can do daily, and also on World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), to prevent suicidal behaviour,” said a statement from the IASP. “You can raise awareness about the issue, educate yourself and others about the causes of suicide and warning signs for suicide, show compassion and care for those who are in distress in your community, question the stigma associated with suicide, suicidal behaviour and mental health problems and share your own experiences.”

Below is a list of resources to help prevent future tragedies and increase public awareness and education surrounding suicide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, don’t hesitate to seek help using the supports listed below. In the case of an emergency, call 911.

Resources for Suicide Prevention and Related Topics:

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP)
CASP provides information and resources that aim to “reduce the suicide rate and minimize the harmful consequences of suicidal behaviour,” according to their website. They offer many resources, including tips on what to do if you’re concerned that someone could be contemplating suicide, coping strategies for suicide grief, and COVID-19 related mental health information and supports.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
CAMH is Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital as well as a research centre. Their website offers a wide array of mental health resources, including some resources specific to COVID-19. They also offer many supports related to suicide and suicide prevention, including a guide for people who have lost someone to suicide in Ontario.

Crisis Services Canada
Crisis Services Canada offers help to all Canadians seeking support. Their website allows Canadians to find distress centres and crisis organizations near them along with offering information for people who know someone considering suicide, support for people striggling with loss and resources related to COVID-19.

The Lifeline Canada Foundation
The Lifeline Canada Foundation is a non-profit “committed to positive mental health and suicide prevention” in Canada and around the world. Their website lists crisis centres, help lines, online chat lines and organizations offering resources. They also offer information on suicide prevention topics such as warning signs and how to cope with suicidal thoughts.

Mental Health Commission of Canada
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada and works to develop and disseminate programs and tools to support the mental health of Canadians. They offer many resources related to suicide prevention, including toolkits, webinars, fact sheets and more. One of their toolkits was created for people who have attempted suicide while the other was made for people who have lost someone to suicide.  

International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
As the organization behind World Suicide Prevention Day, the IASP offers many resources ranging from academic research and other information to suicide bereavement groups and other supports.

Government of Canada
The Government of Canada provides a number of resources to learn more about suicide and suicide prevention, such as information about warning signs and how to talk about suicide as well as statistics and infographics.

Help and Crisis Lines:

Canada Suicide Prevention Service
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566, available 24/7, or text 45645 between 4 p.m. and midnight. There are longer wait times for text conversations, so the service recommends calling in for support at this time.

ONTX Ontario Online & Text Crisis Service
Ontario residents that are in distress, in crisis or having suicidal thoughts can contact ONTX Ontario Online & Text Crisis Service for support between 2 p.m. and 2 a.m. For text support, text SUPPORT to 258258. For online chat support, click here.

Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is a 24/7, national support service offering professional counselling, information and referrals as well as volunteer-led, text-based support for young people. Their services are confidential and can be accessed by phone or text (online chat is currently unavailable). Text CONNECT to 686868 for text services or call 1-800-668-6868 to speak to a professional counsellor. They also have a database to help you locate resources in your area.

LGBT YouthLine
The LGBT YouthLine offers support to LGBTQ+ people across Ontario through text, chat and email from 4 to 9:30 p.m. every day except Saturday. It’s not a crisis line, but their volunteers are LGBTQ+ individuals trained to listen and provide information for people struggling with things like mental health, sexual orientation and gender identity. To access the service through text, contact 647-694-4275.

Trans LifeLine
Trans Lifeline offers a peer-support hotline run by trans people for trans or questioning callers that are in crisis or just need someone to talk to. The hotline is open 24/7 and can be accessed by calling 1-877-330-6366.

Hope for Wellness Help Line
The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers support to all Indigenous peoples across Canada who need immediate crisis intervention. Phone and online counselling are available in English and French. Phone counselling is also available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut by request. To access the Hope for Wellness Help Line, call 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat.

National Indian Residential School Crisis Line
The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line is a national 24-hour support service run by trained crisis counselors, including many counselors that are Indigenous. It provides emotional and crisis referral services as well as information on how to get other health supports from the Government of Canada. To access the Crisis Line, call 1-866-925-4419.

Talk4Healing
Talk4Healing is “a culturally grounded, fully confidential helpline for Indigenous women available in 14 languages all across Ontario.” To access the Talk4Healing helpline, call 1-855-554-HEAL (4325). To access their Crisis Line, call 1-888-200-9997.

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