Question Period Note: SUICIDE PREVENTION IN CANADA

·       When will the Governement implement a fully operational pan-Canadian suicide prevention hotline?

KEY MESSAGES
• The Government recognizes the impact suicide has on families and communities.

• That is why we are investing $21 million over 5 years for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and its partners, to implement a fully operational pan-Canadian suicide prevention service.
• The 2020 Fall Economic Statement announced a $50 million investment to bolster the capacity of distress centres, which are experiencing a surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IF PRESSED ON MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR COVID-19
• Launched in April 2020, Wellness Together Canada provides free and confidential online mental health and substance use supports accessible 24/7 to individuals across Canada in both official languages.
• In Budget 2021, the Government proposes to provide an additional $62 million, in 2021-22, for the Wellness Together Canada portal so that it can continue to provide Canadians with tools and services to support mental health and well-being.
• Also, in Budget 2021, the Government proposes to provide $50 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to support a trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stream of mental health programming for populations at high risk of experiencing COVID-19 trauma (including those exposed to various trauma brought about by COVID-19).
• On March 29, 2020, the Prime Minister announced an investment of $7.5 million to Kids Help Phone to provide crisis supports for children and youth during the pandemic.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada is also providing additional funding for the Canada Suicide Prevention Service to support the increased demand for crisis support at this time.

IF PRESSED ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A 3-DIGIT NUMBER FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION CRISIS SUPPORT
• As demonstrated by the recently passed motion calling on the federal government to set up a national 988 number, there is great interest in exploring the implementation of a three-digit number in Canada.
• As a first step, there is a need to gain a better understanding of the regulatory, technological and resource implications in the Canadian context.
• The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has launched a regulatory proceeding to consult on a proposed three-digit hotline so Canadians have a memorable number they can call when they need help.

BACKGROUND
Over the past 10 years, there was an average of 4,000 deaths by suicide per year in Canada, which resulted in 10 to 12 people that died by suicide every day. Suicide was the 9th leading cause of death among all Canadians, and the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 34, behind unintentional injuries (Statistics Canada). There is no single cause that fully explains or predicts suicide; a combination of factors are associated with suicide, such as mental illness, physical health, personal issues and loss, childhood abuse and neglect, and exposure to trauma.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has provided proof of concept funding to Crisis Services Canada in the amount of $5.46 million over five years (2015-16 to 2020-21) to support the development of the Canada Suicide Prevention Service, a national phone, text and chat suicide prevention service that links existing telephone, distress and crisis infrastructures throughout Canada. Quebec is serving its residents through its provincial suicide prevention line: 1-866-APPELLE.
PHAC is providing $21 million over five years, starting in 2020-21, to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to implement and sustain a fully operational pan-Canadian suicide prevention service. CAMH will lead this initiative in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association and Crisis Services Canada.
The Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention (the Framework) was made publicly available in November 2016. It focuses on raising public awareness, reducing stigma, disseminating information and data, and promoting the use of research and evidence-based practices. Progress Reports on the Framework were released in 2016 and 2018 on Canada.ca, with the most recent report made publicly available in a Minister’s Message posted in December 2020.

Motion 174 – A National Suicide Prevention Action Plan
In April 2018, MP Charlie Angus (NDP, Timmins-James Bay) sponsored motion M-174, calling for the Government to establish a national suicide prevention action plan. On May 8, 2019, parliamentarians voted unanimously in favour of M-174, though it is non-binding. The proposed actions in the plan are aligned with the Framework. PHAC will facilitate the coordination and collaboration on elements of the action plan with relevant departments, agencies and key stakeholders through its convening role on the Framework. An update on M-174 was included under the Framework progress report from December 2020.
3-Digit Suicide Prevention National Telephone Line – 9-8-8 Campaign in Canada
In line with efforts of the U.S. and the U.K. to designate memorable 3-digit numbers for national suicide prevention lines, on December 11, 2020, parliamentarians voted unanimously in favour of a motion sponsored by MP Todd Doherty (Conservative, British Columbia) calling on the federal government to act immediately to set up a national 988 number to consolidate all existing suicide crisis numbers.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is responsible for establishing any three digit abbreviated codes. The CRTC has launched a regulatory proceeding to consult on a proposed three-digit hotline so Canadians have a memorable number they can call when they need help. The public consultation was launched on June 3, 2021 and will end September 1, 2021. As highlighted in Budget 2021, the government is supportive of these efforts, including ensuring funds are available to support the creation of this hotline.
COVID-19 Mental Health Crisis Supports
Demand for crisis support has increased significantly since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada announced a $50 million investment to bolster the capacity of distress centres. PHAC is administering an initial round of grants to 57 distress centres in winter/spring 2021. A portion of funds were retained for a second round of grants in fiscal year 2021-22. This will be available for recipients with remaining or emerging needs, or for eligible organizations not included in the first round of funding. In addition, some of this funding will support the development of resources to assist distress centres in meeting the needs of diverse and vulnerable populations.
On March 29, 2020, the Prime Minister announced an investment of $7.5 million to Kids Help Phone to provide crisis supports for children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional Budget 2021 Mental Health Investments
Budget 2021 proposes $100 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to support projects for innovative mental health interventions for populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, including health care workers, front-line workers, youth, seniors, Indigenous people, and racialized and Black Canadians
The Government also proposes to provide $45 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to help develop national mental health service standards in collaboration with provinces and territories, health organizations, and key stakeholders, so that Canadians can access timely care, treatment, and support.
The Government will provide $50 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to support a trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stream of mental health programming for populations at high risk of experiencing COVID-19 trauma and those exposed to various trauma brought about by COVID-19.
Understanding the Mental Health Impact of the Pandemic
Through its COVID-19 and Mental Health Research Initiative, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is currently supporting more than 100 research projects on COVID-19 and Mental Health, including problematic substance use ($13.5 million from CIHR and partners). These important projects will look at mental health during and after the pandemic and will generate new evidence to inform the Mental Health response to the pandemic. Ultimately, these initiatives will help offer new evidence-based treatments and services to all Canadians, especially for priority populations that may be experiencing acute mental health concerns associated with COVID-19.
Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health and Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events
PHAC is currently conducting surveillance to understand the impact of COVID-19 on suicide and self-harm. The analysis will seek to estimate the prevalence of suicide ideation among the population in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare this to pre-pandemic prevalence, while also identifying those groups that may potentially have a higher risk of suicide than the general population.

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