Canadian develops national suicide prevention service

Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott announced Thursday that the Canadian government supports the development of a national suicide prevention service.

"We are pleased to be part of this important project, which will ensure that Canadians of all ages and backgrounds can access the help they need, when they need it, with technology that works for them. We can help prevent suicide across Canada," said the minister.

The Canadian government is to provide two million Canadian dollars (about 1.5 million U.S. dollars) over five years to support the development of the national suicide prevention service.

This service, which includes more than 30 Canadian community organizations, will use text, chat and phone technology, integrate and link existing regional distress and crisis line services across Canada.

Once fully implemented in late 2017, it will ensure that individuals in crisis, regardless of where they live in Canada, have access to free and confidential support, on a 24-hours seven-day basis.

The Canadian Distress Line Network and its partners have already begun testing the service in the country's three provinces -- British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. This pilot phase includes testing the integration and compatibility of the various technological platforms used to link existing crisis call centres, developing standardized training for responders, and setting national service standards.

The Canadian Distress Line Network is a national network of organizations that includes regional and local crisis, distress and suicide prevention services. Its member organizations currently respond to more than 75,000 suicide-related calls each year and more than 650,000 distress and crisis texts, calls and chats.

Suicide affects people of all ages and backgrounds in Canada. On average, more than 10 Canadians die by suicide every day and 4,000 suicides per year, according to the Canadian Health Ministry. Endit