Today, the Government of Canada is taking an important step to make sure Canadians can access suicide prevention support when they need it most.
The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced that the federal government will invest up to $120.2 million over the next two years to support the continued operations of the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline, a critical service for Canadians in distress.
Launched in 2023, the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline is Canada's national, three-digit number for suicide crisis support. Anyone who is experiencing a suicide crisis or who is worried about someone close to them can call or text 9-8-8 at any time to access to 24/7/365, bilingual, trauma-informed, and culturally-appropriate support from trained responders.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) will continue to coordinate and operate the helpline in collaboration with 37 network partners across Canada, including local crisis lines, provincial mental health services, and national organizations such as Kids Help Phone and Hope for Wellness.
