By Adam Berls

988 helpline

‘A bittersweet day’: Doherty reflects on launch of 988

Nov 30, 2023 | 2:58 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Canadians across the country now have access to a national suicide crisis helpline, 988.

Over a thousand days had passed since a motion proposing a national suicide helpline was first put forward in the House of Commons, and on Thursday 988 was launched, with the overarching goal to prevent suicide. The motion to launch a national suicide helpline was put forward by Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty, and for him, the day was bittersweet.

“Canadians, regardless of where they are or who they are or where they come from, can call or text 988 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive crisis intervention if they are if they’re considering suicide, if they need somebody to talk to. That help is only three digits away. And so it is a it’s a bittersweet day.” – Todd Doherty, MP for Cariboo-Prince George (CPC)

While Doherty hopes that 988 could have become a reality sooner, he wanted to make sure that it was done right.

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“I also wanted to make sure that when it went live, when somebody that is struggling called that number, that they didn’t receive a dial tone or didn’t receive or were placed on hold, and that there was somebody that was trained crisis responder on the other other end and that it was available.” – – Todd Doherty, MP for Cariboo-Prince George (CPC)

With today’s launch, Doherty is hoping that the conversation regarding mental health will continue and also hopes that these conversations and 988 itself, can make a difference.

988 gives access to immediate, real-time suicide prevention services for people experiencing a mental health crisis, via call or text, free of charge, 24/7 from coast to coast to coast.

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Twitter: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com