Suicide Prevention: Online Help Available in Quebec
Chat or text support, tips, tools: whatever kind of help you’re looking for, you may find what you need on suicide.ca, Quebec's digital suicide prevention service. If you have suicidal thoughts, if you’re worried about someone or if you’re grieving a loss by suicide, we’re here to support you. Here's how we can help you.
Suicide.ca : help, educate, prevent
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Chat or text with professional counsellors to get help
For some people, it is sometimes easier to reach out to someone or have a conversation in writing. If it’s the case for you, suicide.ca's chat or text messaging support service could be a good option to seek help and share your concerns without having to speak out loud. It actually gives you the opportunity to reach a professional and specialized suicide prevention counsellor with whom you can discuss your situation in complete confidentiality.
Our service is free, bilingual and offered throughout Quebec.
Don't hesitate to ask for help
We know, however, that asking for help is not always easy and that a lot of people may feel hesitant to do so, but it’s important to keep in mind that the counsellors answering the chat and text messages are professionals who are used to talking about suicide. They are there to listen to you and help you in a non-judgmental way. It’s also important to remember that all types of situations are valid for starting a conversation with a counsellor. For example:
- You’re concerned because you feel that your mental health is deteriorating and that the difficulties you are going through may lead you to have suicidal thoughts.
- You feel great distress and often think about suicide.
- A loved one has said worrisome comments and you don’t know what you should do about that.
- You have a doubt that someone you know may have suicidal thoughts and don’t know how to approach this person.
- You have lost a loved one by suicide, and you are experiencing this grief with difficulty.
Feel free to contact us for any reason. And above all, you don't have to wait until things get really bad to start a conversation. We are here to help at any moment.
To start a text conversation, text 1-855-957-5353. To access the chat, click on the link below.
Online information to help you
If you don't necessarily feel the need to talk to someone, at least not right away, but are still looking for advice, practical tips or simply want to better understand what you're going through, you might find the information you need on suicide.ca as well. The following sections of our site can help you, depending on your situation:
Tools to help you take care of yourself
There are many things you can do to take care of your mental health and prevent suicidal thoughts (e.g., learn to recognize the warning signs of distress, make a safety plan, find strategies to deal with stress, adopt good lifestyle habits, etc.). Yet, it is not always easy to put all of this into practice. This is why suicide.ca offers interactive tools to help you get there.
These tools include, among others, a journal to track your mood, breathing exercises and various tools to help you find strategies to get better. A self-assessment questionnaire can also be completed to help you take stock of your mental health.
Where to find these tools?
Online in the My Tools section of suicide.ca or on the My Tools mobile application, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Is Suicide.ca a qualified help service?
Suicide.ca is Quebec's digital suicide prevention service. This platform, which was launched in October 2020, is an initiative of the Association québécoise de prévention du suicide and is funded by the Government of Quebec’s Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
Counsellors responding to chat and text messages are professionals trained in the field of psychosocial intervention and must go through a rigorous training process.
In addition, the content and tools available on suicide.ca were developed by professionals and researchers specialized in suicide prevention.
Other suicide prevention support services in Quebec and Canada
Besides suicide.ca, which offers online help, other suicide prevention resources are available in Quebec and Canada.
Quebec’s suicide prevention hotline
Quebec’s suicide prevention hotline is available 24/7 at 1-866-277-3553. This toll-free number is available across Quebec. By calling this number, you will reach a qualified trained counsellor who will be able to help.
Suicide prevention centers in Quebec
Suicide prevention centers are organizations located in the different regions of Quebec that offer a variety of services for people who are dealing with suicidal thoughts, but also for loved ones and people who are grieving a loss by suicide.
Elsewhere in Canada
For people living in Canada but outside of Quebec, Crisis Services Canada offers a 24/7 hotline (1-833-456-4566) and a text message intervention service at 45645.
You’re not alone
In addition to the various suicide prevention services offered in Quebec, which suicide.ca is part of, there are many other resources in Quebec to support and guide you depending on the difficulties you’re going through. If you or a loved one is experiencing difficulties, you can also call Info-Social 811 at any time to talk to a psychosocial worker and be oriented, if necessary, to the right resource. Remember that you’re never alone.
