A nationwide suicide crisis hotline launching in November could save lives, but will also create greater demand for community-based mental health supports that are already under strain, according to mental health advocates.
NDP MP Gord Johns, his party's critic for mental health and addictions, told The Hill Times that the 988 suicide crisis helpline is important and will save lives, but agreed it may create more need in terms of community-based services.
"Hopefully, more people are going to use it and we're going to be able to save lives, but of course, when someone calls and they need help, we need to make sure that there's community-based care... to help people in their time of need,' he said.
Rolling out investments promised for the mental health transfer could help "absorb some of the new demands that are going to be on the system", according to Johns.