REGINA — The Government of Saskatchewan is part of a new 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline. The new service launched today across Canada will help people who are thinking about suicide or worried about someone they know, according to a Ministry of Health press release.
Calls or texts to 9-8-8 will be directed to a mental health crisis or suicide prevention service, free of charge.
The 9-8-8 service can be used by anyone in Canada, including children and youth.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is leading the national coordination of the 9-8-8 service. When someone reaches out to 9-8-8, they will be connected to the responder that is closest to them, based on their area code, whenever possible. All 9-8-8 responders are trained in suicide prevention and can provide trauma-informed and culturally appropriate support.
The local partners in this initiative include Mobile Crisis Services Regina, Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit and Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service.
Implementing 9-8-8 also required technical assistance from SaskTel, as a telecommunications provider.
In addition to 9-8-8, Saskatchewan has several provincial suicide prevention initiatives including:
- Roots of Hope community-led project that aims to reduce the impacts of suicide in the northern communities of La Ronge, Meadow Lake, and Buffalo Narrows;
- suicide prevention public awareness campaigns;
- launch of a provincial safe medication disposal program to reduce the risk of intentional overdose;
- media training on the challenges of reporting on mental health and suicide, sponsored by the Mental Health Commission of Canada;
- development of a rapid access counselling suicide loss support program; and
- free virtual suicide prevention training for non-clinicians, created by LivingWorks and offered through Canadian Mental Health Association-Saskatchewan.
In addition to using 9-8-8, children and youth can also continue to contact Kids Help Phone, or text CONNECT to 686868 for help in a mental health crisis.
For more information about resources available on suicide prevention and mental health, visit .
