Photo: Dreamtime.com

By Shaun Penner

9-8-8

Warkentin pleased to see three-digit national suicide hotline gain house approval

Dec 15, 2020 | 12:18 PM

Grande Prairie’s Member of Parliament is happy to see a motion brought forward by fellow Conservative MP Todd Doherty (Cariboo-Prince George) receive passage in the House of Commons earlier this month, one that will now bring about the implementation of a three-digit National Suicide Hotline.

The new 9-8-8 number is something Chris Warkentin says he and his colleagues among the Conservative caucus have been pushing towards for quite some time, and he is very pleased to see the hotline finally gain house approval.

“This is a hotline that we wish we didn’t need, but we do need it,” said Warkentin, adding he feels this will eliminate many barriers those in crisis face when seeking supports.

“We do believe that every tool that is available, and can be made available, to save people’s lives is absolutely necessary.”

A national suicide hotline is currently available at 833-456-4566. However, Warkentin says the 9-8-8 number is much easier to remember and access.

“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.”

He adds that with the increased isolation and anxiety created by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was high time the federal government finally get this motion pushed through to have the hotline created as soon as possible.

“I personally have spoken with so many people who have been impacted by suicide in their lives, and we’ve seen firsthand the challenges that so many people are facing in terms of job losses and isolation and separation from family,” said Warkentin.

“While this isn’t going to be the solution for everybody, it’s going to be one more tool to ensure that those people who are seeking help (get it) as soon as possible.”

Warkentin says he is not only happy to see his party back this motion but all other parties in the house as well.

“When push comes to shove, I think parliamentarians across party lines recognize this is a growing challenge. It’s a major issue in many of our communities,” adds Warkentin.

“it’s important for us to work together to provide every service and help that we can, possibly, for those people struggling.”

With the motion passed through, Warkentin hopes the creation of the hotline happens as soon as possible.