Chris Warkentin, Member of Parliament for Grande Prairie – Mackenzie, applauded the passage of a motion in the House of Commons to establish the 9-8-8 National Suicide Hotline in Canada.
“I was proud to work with Conservative MP Todd Doherty (Cariboo-Prince George) to push the Government to take immediate action and establish a national suicide prevention hotline that consolidates all suicide crisis numbers into one easy to remember three-digit number (9-8-8).”
“Help should not be hard to access for those in the Peace Country and across Canada facing the darkest moments of their life. Now, it will only be three digits away.”
Currently, Canada’s national suicide hotline is a ten-digit number and an unnecessary barrier for Canadians in crisis.
“The mental health of Peace Country residents has been tested throughout the pandemic. Increased isolation and heightened anxiety have led to higher rates of alcohol and substance abuse