A new 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline is getting praise after it was launched Canada-wide last week.
The service helps those who are thinking about suicide or are worried about someone they know. By calling or texting 9-8-8, they will be directed to a mental health crisis or suicide prevention service free of charge.
“I think it’s amazing and we just have to get it publicized now so people know that when they call, they’re going to get somebody who’s going to answer the phone. They are going to know what to do to help them and that gives them hope,” said local suicide prevention and awareness trainer and Journey to Hope Moose Jaw board member Donna Atsu-Bowyer.
She added that having a national suicide crisis helpline shows that Health Canada is taking mental health and suicide seriously.
“It’s not just a fad or something that’s going to go away. This is real and it is something that’s taking a lot of people’s lives that should not be dying,” Atsu-Bowyer said.
The 9-8-8 service is free to anyone in Canada, including children and youth. Kids Help Phone is also still available for children and youth for help in a mental health crisis.
When calling 9-8-8, the caller will be connected with a responder that is closest to them based on their area code when possible. All responders are trained in suicide prevention and can provide trauma-informed and culturally appropriate support.
Previously, there was a 1-833 phone number that people could phone, but now a three-digit number makes access easier.
“Things that have happened to you or that you’ve been involved in, or everybody has their own story as to how they get to that point of having thoughts of suicide and they can be very overwhelmed to the point where just looking up a phone number seems like a major event that they just can’t cope with one more thing,” Atsu-Bowyer said.
In Saskatchewan, Healthline 8-1-1 is still available to residents going through a mental health crisis. However, Atsu-Bowyer said there is no guarantee you will speak to someone trained to deal with a mental health crisis and it poses a number of problems.
“I know if you phone 8-1-1, there’s a lot of procedures you have to go through. You’re not going to get directly to somebody to talk to. So, it’s a little bit more challenging and frustrating for somebody who’s feeling overwhelmed,” she said.
She added that the emergency room is also still a good option as well as calling the police for the PACT team for wellness checks.
To find out more about the new Suicide Crisis Helpline and to find mental health coping mechanisms, you can visit the 9-8-8 website.