News

Canada invests $156M in 988 hotline for suicide prevention and emotional distress

by Lorraine Carpenter

As of Nov. 30, the new three-digit crisis number will be available across Canada to call and text in English or French, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

On Monday, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett joined representatives of Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to announce that a new suicide prevention and emotional distress hotline, 988, will be coming to Canada on Nov. 30.

The federal government is investing $156-million over a three-year period into the implementation and operation of crisis line, which will be handled by CAMH. The new three-digit number will be available across Canada to call and text in English or French 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The crisis line is modelled on the successful Kids Help phone, which was established in 1989. A 988 crisis line was launched in the U.S. one year ago.

Help is currently available via a number of other organizations, including Talk Suicide Canada and, locally, Suicide Action Montreal.

Canada invests $156M in 988 hotline for suicide prevention and emotional distress

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by Lorraine Carpenter

Editor in chief
Lorraine Carpenter was born in Montreal and studied communications and journalism at Concordia. She co-founded Cult MTL in 2012 following 12 years at the now-defunct Montreal alt weekly the Mirror, where she worked in editorial as copy editor and music editor. She’s dedicated to supporting the cultural scene in Montreal.