By 2023, an emergency number for those in a mental health crisis will be available.
The 9-8-8 will be a free number that people can call 24/7 during a mental health crisis. For those who prefer texting or it is unsafe to call, text will also be available.
Right now, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission has to get all of Canada onto 10-digit local dialing as places in northern Ontario, Yellowknife and parts of Newfoundland and Labrador still utilize seven-digit dialing.
Service providers have been given a deadline of May 31, 2023 to have all those communities on board, with the launch of 988 mental health crisis lines scheduled on Nov. 30, 2023.
Currently, people in Canada experiencing mental health distress can obtain assistance through Talk Suicide Canada by dialling toll-free at 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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