What the Government of Canada is doing to help prevent suicide
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support from a trained responder is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline.
Help is also available through Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) and the Hope for Wellness Help Line for Indigenous populations (1-855-242-3310).
On this page
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline
- National Suicide Prevention Action Plan
- Legislative requirements
- Other activities
- For more information
9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline
The 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline is Canada's national, three-digit number for suicide crisis support. It can help anyone who is experiencing suicide crisis or who is worried about someone else.
9-8-8 is:
- available by phone and text
- accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- provided in English and French
- trauma-informed
- culturally appropriate
- available to anyone in Canada
- accessible by connecting through the Canada Video Relay Service
- available in other languages by request
9-8-8 is funded by the Government of Canada and coordinated by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. The service is delivered by a network of nearly 40 partners, including national, provincial, and local distress lines.
9-8-8 partners include:
- Hope for Wellness Help Line, who offer specialized support for First Nations, Inuit and Métis
- Kids Help Phone, who focus on supporting young people
National Suicide Prevention Action Plan (2024 to 2027)
The National Suicide Prevention Action Plan is a three-year, evergreen plan to strengthen the Government of Canada's response to suicide. It encourages greater collective action on suicide prevention and life promotion with partners.
The Action Plan has key areas for action across 4 pillars:
- Data and monitoring
- Research and evaluation
- Supports and services
- Governance
Legislative requirements
The Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Act was established in 2012. It ensures the Government of Canada reports to Canadians on suicide prevention efforts every 2 years.
The Government of Canada's most recent efforts on suicide prevention can be found in the 2024 Progress Report on Suicide Prevention.
The National Suicide Prevention Action Plan replaces the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention as Canada's guiding framework on suicide prevention and life promotion.
Other activities
We carry out a range of activities to help to prevent suicide in Canada, such as:
- funding research related to suicide
- promoting healthy living and mental well-being
- monitoring and sharing key statistics on suicide:
We also fund or provide health care services for:
- Veterans
- First Nations and Inuit
- members of the RCMP
- people serving federal sentences
- Canadian Armed Forces personnel
- newcomers to Canada, including refugees