Ottawa 1st, September : A national three-digit suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline in Canada will go into the country in 2023, Canada’s telecom and broadcasting regulator announced.In the announcement made on Wednesday, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) stated that the hotline that will be inaugurated in November 30th, 2023, will use 9-8-8 as the phone number to dial or text Canadians who are in need of immediate mental health crisis and suicide prevention intervention, according to Xinhua news agency.
When the new system is adopted by telephone as well as wireless service providers, texts and calls to 9-8-8 are referred to the mental health crisis or suicide prevention service which is completely free of cost according to the CRTC stated.
It was added that the capability to text 9-8-8 ensure that those in crises who are unable to call without risk or text can seek out counseling.
The same three-digit number that is easy to remember is being used in the US.
Today, individuals in Canada that are suffering from mental health difficulties can seek help via Talk Suicide Canada by dialing toll-free 1-888-456-4566.
Between 2017 to 2019 there were around 4,500 deaths caused by suicide in Canada each year, which is about 12 deaths per day.
In 2020 the suicide rate among those aged between 20 and 24 of age was 11.7 per 100,000.
In the year 2019 suicide was one of the top 10 most-predicted causes of death in Canada.
Certain populations have higher rates and higher risk of suicide Some groups are at risk of suicide, such as men young people who are aged between 45 and 59, people who are classified as members of the LGBTQ2 group as well as certain Indigenous communities according to the CRTC.
