Learn English with Honourable Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Lisa Raitt, delivers a somber message about the tragic toll of suicide in Canada and the need for mental health support across the country. Suicide is the leading cause of premature death in our country, and every year, approximately 4,500 people in Canada die by suicide.
00:00:18.320Twelve people die by suicide each and every day in this country, and that is twelve too many.
00:00:24.900There's twelve too many families with broken hearts, twelve too many communities who grieve each and every day.
00:00:31.900Each loss is tragic, and I know I've said this many times in recent weeks.
00:00:36.460I will say it again and again and again.
00:00:39.220Every person lost to suicide leaves behind a grief-stricken family, friends, and loved ones who struggle to pick up the pieces, and they're shattered with the loss.
00:00:49.340It's deeply personal to so many of us, not just in this room, but across the country.
00:00:54.480Because we know that losing someone to suicide sticks with you throughout your life.
00:00:59.580And I want families, friends, and loved ones to know we see you.
00:01:03.720We're here for you, and we embrace you.
00:01:07.240Every person in Canada deserves access to crisis support services when and where they need it, and we are providing that lifeline.
00:01:14.800All of us in this room, and many more across this country, have been committed to this goal of ensuring that people across Canada have the best possible mental health and crisis intervention supports and resources when they need them.
00:01:28.620So today, I'm so proud to say that we are one step closer to getting to that goal.
00:01:54.560988 Suicide Crisis Helpline is now available across Canada in both English and French 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
00:02:04.400People in crisis can now access health by phone or by text, no matter where they live in this country.
00:02:12.460This line, at the end of the day, is really about meeting each and every one of the Canadians who are struggling across our country, where they are, and when they need us.
00:02:20.560We all know in this room what it means to show up for someone, to be there in that critical moment, when they need that voice on the end of the line.
00:02:30.020And we all know someone who has been struggling with their mental health.
00:02:34.060Many of us have been touched by suicide, losing family, friends, colleagues, and community members.
00:02:39.420The 988 is now available across Canada in both English and in French 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
00:02:54.040People in crisis can now access help by phone or by text, no matter where they live in the country.
00:03:02.540This line, at the end of the day, is really about each and every one of the Canadians who are struggling across our country, no matter where they live.
00:03:15.460We all know someone who is struggling with their mental health.
00:03:20.120Many of us have been touched by suicide, losing family, friends, colleagues, and community members.
00:03:28.560We all know that 988 will help save lives.
00:03:34.720For someone who is at their lowest point, a caring voice on the other end of the phone is that lifeline.
00:03:42.100This Canada-wide suicide crisis helpline is being led by the Center for Addictions and Mental Health, lovingly known as CHEM-H.
00:03:50.060CHEM-H has linked together a network of experienced crisis and distress centers, enhancing support across Canada,
00:03:55.600and ensuring that help is never far away for people reaching out.
00:04:00.720Everyone who answers the call or text is trained in suicide prevention, with a focus on providing trauma-informed and culturally appropriate care.
00:04:09.940In a few moments, you will hear more about this from our many key partners.
00:04:15.100Responders, and all of you in this room, you are the experts.
00:04:18.220You know your communities, you know your communities, you know the unique needs of your regions, and that matters so much.
00:04:26.440Knowing your community matters, and particularly when it comes to helping people in situations of crisis,
00:04:31.760you know what it looks like to show up for them.
00:04:33.660You are the experts, so you know your communities, you know the unique needs of your regions, it's vital.
00:04:48.880Knowing one's community is important, especially when it comes to helping people in crisis.
00:04:55.200This is important because everyone's needs are different, and those differences truly matter.
00:05:02.020We know that while suicide can affect anyone, some groups have higher rates of suicide.
00:05:08.180I take a moment to acknowledge our Indigenous peoples, men and boys, older adults, members of the 2SLGBTQI plus communities,
00:05:19.100and people who live in our rural and remote communities.
00:05:22.340And I'll take special note, as I have before, to our communities in Nunavut and our young people there.
00:05:27.840We see you. We are here for you each and every day.
00:05:32.660People have diverse needs and may not benefit from the same kind of help delivered in the same way.
00:05:37.800And at the same time, they are our family, they are our friends, our neighbors, and our colleagues, and we care for them deeply.
00:05:43.200There are also many other factors that can affect a person's mental health needs, from unemployment to poverty and to social exclusion.
00:05:52.200We know that there are many factors in the social determinants of health and one's well-being.
00:05:57.120These are things that we are committed on working on together.
00:06:01.280A young person, for example, may face different challenges than a senior with chronic health problems.
00:06:06.460We need to meet each of them where they are.
00:06:08.520And the good news is that 988 responders have the expertise and experience needed to provide help.
00:06:15.600There is no one better place to support Canadians at this time than the team of the 988.
00:06:22.160This work is challenging, and you have taken on a lot.
00:06:26.400But I want to thank you for all the work that you do every single day for Canadians.
00:06:32.040So as we start to close, so we can hear from our many partners in this project, I'd like to once again thank our partner organizations who have, you've always been there for Canadians.
00:06:45.900You've been doing this work for many, many years.
00:06:48.300This includes our local partners, such as Distress Centers of Greater Toronto and the Gerstein Crisis Center, here in the GTA.
00:06:55.460And also thank you to our national partners, such as Kids Help Phone and Hope for Wellness, who will continue to provide dedicated service through 988 to youth and indigenous communities.
00:07:07.280I know I said this earlier on, but we know this.
00:07:12.540In my short time as the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, I've had the opportunity to visit crisis centers and see their work up close.
00:07:21.220You inspire me each and every day with the compassion and love and the dedicated work of your teams and your volunteers who, again, show up for our communities every day.
00:07:32.220I've heard so many stories of Canadians who sought mental health support from these centers and whose lives have been changed because of it, because of all of you.
00:07:40.160When it comes to mental health, we cannot work in isolation.
00:07:47.800When we can provide so much, when we can provide much better access and services, we know that we can do it when we work together.
00:07:54.920But we must continue to take concrete steps to provide people across Canada with the best possible mental health and crisis intervention supports and resources.
00:08:03.440This is how we are going to save lives.
00:08:05.640In leaning into my Jewish tradition just a little bit at this moment, we have a beautiful saying that says,
00:08:14.820And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he has saved an entire world.
00:08:19.260Each phone call in the 988 is not just answering the call of the person in crisis, but the world of families and communities around them,
00:08:27.080who we are also supporting in that moment of need.
00:08:29.480On a last note, I want to take one key message away from today, and my message to Canadians is simple.
00:08:37.760If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please know you are not alone.