CRTC to implement new 9-8-8 number for mental health crisis and suicide prevention

Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that it will adopt 9-8-8 as the number to call or text for Canadians who are in need of immediate mental health crisis and suicide prevention intervention.

Once launched by telephone and wireless service providers on November 30, 2023, calls and texts to 9-8-8 will be directed to a mental health crisis and suicide prevention service, free of charge, from anywhere in Canada. These calls will be managed by an entity that will be designated by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

In order for 9-8-8 to function across Canada, 10-digit dialing must first be introduced in certain areas where 7‑digit dialing is still the norm. This includes Newfoundland and Labrador, northern Ontario and the Yellowknife area. The CRTC is requiring service providers to complete the transition to 10-digit local dialing in these areas by May 31, 2023.

Once the transition is complete, service providers will have six months to make the necessary changes to their networks to enable callers to dial or text 9-8-8.

PHAC will select an organization to lead service delivery for 9-8-8. As a first step, this lead organization will engage with stakeholders and develop partnerships and collaborations to implement the national 9-8-8 service. The Agency will also continue engagement with provinces, territories, Indigenous organizations and other partners, and will complete an analysis of anticipated service volumes to help understand the impact of implementing a three-digit number, including the coordination of the services already in place and efforts to improve service capacity. 

Help is still available in the meantime

Currently, people in Canada who are experiencing mental health distress can obtain assistance through Talk Suicide Canada by dialing toll-free 1-833-456-4566. Residents of Quebec are encouraged to call 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553).

Assistance is also available through text. Adults can text 741741 and youth can text 686868. Quebec residents can text 1-855-957-5353. Talk Suicide Canada’s text service is available in the evenings from 4:00 p.m. to midnight EST by texting 45645.

For more information, please refer to the news release.