Answering a call for help can save a life, but what comes next is just as critical

With 12 Canadians dying by suicide every day, the government has set up a national three-digit helpline. But a compassionate response can’t end there. It demands the availability of real help for Canadians in mental distress, before and after they hang up the phone.

Moving beyond the crisis helpline requires care after the call

Crisis support like the 9-8-8 crisis line is only part of an effective action plan to prevent suicide. People will need urgent care after the call and the federal government is on the hook.