The hotline 988 was activated today, Thursday, across Canada, allowing access to suicide prevention services via calls or text messages.

Citizens in all provinces and territories who are experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate real-time help can use the three-digit number.

Similar to 911 for access to fire, police, and medical emergency services, 988: the suicide crisis helpline is a short and easy-to-remember number for quick response from coast to coast, 24/7 and free of charge.

Dr. Allison Crawford, the medical lead of the line, will coordinate the service. She is also a psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the largest mental health teaching hospital in the country, based in Toronto.

Crawford said the goal of 988 is suicide prevention.

What is 988?

Starting at 9 a.m., calls and text messages to 988 will be directed to a network of partners in communities across the country who provide suicide prevention services, such as counseling.

The 988 service is federally funded and available to everyone in both English and French.

Why is it necessary?

According to Statistics Canada, 4,500 people die by suicide in this country each year, which equals 12 people dying by suicide every day. For every suicide death, at least seven to ten people attempted suicide or experienced the loss of someone who died by suicide.

Although suicide rates did not increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, crisis lines across the country saw an increase in calls from people reporting high levels of stress.

Also, although suicide rates did not increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, crisis lines across the country saw an increase in calls from people reporting high levels of stress.

Who is 988 for?

It is for everyone.

There are multiple ways to connect, as when someone calls 988, they are first presented with a menu. Children, teenagers, and Indigenous peoples are among those who may choose to access services specifically directed to them.

Children and youth can also contact Kids Help Phone for mental health support by texting 686868 from anywhere in Canada.

In addition to calling 988, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals will also be able to call the Hope for Wellness helpline. Its staff have received special cultural humility training, and they are available by calling 1-855-242-331. Services are available upon request in Cree, Ojibwe, and Inuktitut.

As with Kids Help Phone, Hope for Wellness is also a menu option through 988.

The previous suicide prevention helpline, Talk Suicide Canada, was about a quarter of the size of 988 in terms of national coverage.

One reason for adopting 988 as the helpline number is that the United States uses the same number for a similar crisis line launched in July 2022.