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Ottawa (10 Aug. 2021) — The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has written to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to support the urgent implementation of a 988 dialing code for mental health and suicide prevention services in Canada. NUPGE has almost 400,000 members, many working in health care, including in mental health services.
CRTC to rule on implementing a 3-digit national suicide prevention number
NUPGE President Larry Brown sent the letter as an intervention to the CRTC which will be ruling on whether to implement a national 3-digit code for suicide prevention. Currently, Canadians in crisis are required to dial a 10 digit number to access mental health services. NUPGE believes that requiring a 10 digit number to access services represents a significant barrier for those in crisis. The call for comments (interventions) is open until 1 Sept. 2021, and the documents are on the CRTC's website here.
Pandemic is harming mental health of Canadians - action needed
NUPGE believes that we are already experiencing a mental health crisis in Canada and that urgent action is needed. Reports show that the pandemic has doubled the suicide attempts among Canadian children. 40% of Canadians surveyed say that their mental health has deteriorated during the pandemic. There has been a fourfold increase in suicidal thinking since 2016, with a reported 2.5% of Canadians having had these thoughts in 2016, and the number increasing to 10% by the end of 2020. While the pandemic infection rates have been vastly aided by the vaccinations, there is no such treatment for the mental health crisis.
NUPGE calls for a strong investment in mental health as part of comprehensive strategy
NUPGE believes a 988 helpline is critically important to remove the barrier of the 10 digit code, but this change must be accompanied by other actions. What is needed is a fully funded national mental health strategy, including a 988 helpline. Achieving a more comprehensive strategy requires all levels of government to coordinate resources and ensure that Canadians in crisis are seamlessly connected to local and regional resources. We must not continue to allow this largely invisible condition to continue to go unaddressed. Too many Canadians continue to suffer without the mental health supports they need. Health care must not continue to be limited to the physical health of Canadians.
NUPGE hopes mental health will be an election issue
All signs point to an election this year. The pandemic response will be a major issue for voters. NUPGE believes that political parties who are seeking the support of Canadians must recognize the unprecedented harm that this pandemic has done to the mental health of many Canadians. It is no longer enough to say supportive things about mental health, real resources and supports must be available. NUPGE supports a 988 suicide prevention line as one part of a comprehensive and resourced mental health strategy.