Canada to Have 988 Hotline System Effective Nov. 30, 2023

All calls or texts to 988 in Canada will be routed to a mental health crisis or suicide prevention service effective Nov. 30, 2023, said the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Wednesday. Canada's adoption of a three-digit mental health and suicide prevention system using 988 was expected (see 2208230007). CRTC said as part of 988 implementation, areas that still have seven-digit dialing will transition to 10-digit dialing by May 31. It said the Public Health Agency of Canada will determine what entity will manage 988 calls.