New 988 mental health crisis number to launch in November 2023

OTTAWA and GATINEAU — Canada is getting a new 988 mental health crisis and suicide prevention number — but not until Nov. 30, 2023. The CRTC announced today it will adopt 988 as the three-digit number to call or text for Canadians in need of immediate crisis intervention, however, it will take more than a year for the number to go live. The United States has already implemented 988 for its national mental health hotline, which launched in mid-July. What needs to happen before the 988 number can function across Canada is 10-digit dialling must be introduced in areas where seven-digit dialling...