If you are thinking about ending your life or feel you cannot hold on, you can call or text 9-8-8 right now, or call BC's 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433). If it has not reached that point but you need someone to listen, call 310-6789, with no area code. These lines are answered 24 hours a day. If someone is already hurt, in danger, or about to harm themselves, call 911. [1][3][4][5]
Main lines
| Number | When to use it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9-8-8 (call or text) | Thoughts of suicide, or worried about someone | National, 24/7, English and French |
| 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE) | Thoughts of suicide, despair, or worried about someone | BC line, 24/7, more than 140 languages through a language service |
| 310-6789 (no area code) | Emotional distress, someone to talk to, information on resources | BC-wide, 24/7 |
| 604-872-3311 | Vancouver Coastal regional distress line | Run by Crisis Centre BC |
| 911 | Someone is hurt, has overdosed or is in danger | Interpreters available |
9-8-8 launched on November 30, 2023 and is funded by the federal government. Responders listen, assess suicide risk, and help you cope in the moment and make a safety plan. When you call you may hear a recording; you can choose English or French and say whether you are under 18 or First Nations, Inuit or Métis. If there is a wait, stay on the line. [1][2][14]
1-800-SUICIDE and 310-6789 are answered by the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC and partner centres. You do not need to know what to say, or decide whether your situation is "serious enough", before calling. [3][4][5]
Students, young people and Indigenous people
- Here2Talk (students at BC post-secondary institutions, including international students and those abroad): call 1-877-857-3397 or 604-642-5212 (from outside Canada, 1-604-642-5212; international charges may apply), or chat through the app or website. 24/7 and free. Counselling can be requested in languages including Mandarin and Cantonese (2023 government release). [7]
- Foundry Virtual BC (ages 12–24 and caregivers): 1-833-308-6379, by video, audio or chat. Free, confidential, no referral needed. Open Mon–Fri 10 am–9 pm and weekends 10 am–6 pm; it is not a 24-hour crisis line. [8]
- Kids Help Phone (kids, teens and young adults): call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868. 24/7, free and confidential, with phone support in multiple languages. [9]
- KUU-US Crisis Line (Indigenous people in BC): 1-800-588-8717, 24/7. Also Hope for Wellness 1-855-242-3310 (Indigenous people, 24/7) and the Métis Crisis Line 1-833-638-4722. [6]
Chinese and other languages
- 1-800-784-2433: say the language you need in English (for example "Mandarin" or "Cantonese"); more than 140 languages are available through a language service. [4]
- 310-6789: the provincial crisis lines page says translation is available in more than 130 languages on request. [10]
- 9-8-8: the federal government lists English and French and does not mention other languages. If you need Chinese, call 1-800-784-2433 and ask for an interpreter. [1]
- Chinese-language support lines: the non-profit S.U.C.C.E.S.S. offers phone support in Cantonese (604-270-8233) and Mandarin (604-270-8222). The provincial resource page lists hours of 10 am to 10 pm daily, so it is not a 24-hour line. [11][12]
- 911: E-Comm offers 24-hour interpretation in more than 200 languages, usually connected in under a minute. Say the English name of your language, such as "Mandarin", and stay on the line. Do not wait for an English-speaking family member before calling. [13]
When to call 911 directly
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if someone has overdosed or harmed themselves, has a specific plan and intends to act now, or is behaving in a way that puts themselves or others in danger. [6][15]
How to help someone close to you
- Ask directly: "Are you thinking about suicide?" The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) guide says asking does not put the idea in someone's head, and the person may feel relieved to talk.
- Listen first: take their words seriously, without judging, interrupting or rushing to give advice.
- Check for immediate danger: if they plan to act now, call 911. If they are willing to go to emergency, offer to go with them.
- Reduce access to means: have extra medications disposed of through a pharmacist or held by a trusted person, and remove or lock away items that could be used for self-harm.
- Connect to help together: you can call 9-8-8 or 1-800-784-2433 with them, and people worried about someone else can call these lines themselves. If the risk is not immediate, help them make a safety plan.
You are not expected to be a mental health professional. If supporting someone is wearing you down, you can call these lines for yourself too. [15][4]
Sources
- Public Health Agency of Canada (Nov 2023): 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline
- Crisis Centre BC: Crisis lines
- HealthLink BC: 1-800-SUICIDE
- HelpStartsHere (BC government): 310 Mental Health Support
- BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services: Getting help
- BC Gov News (Oct 2023): Here2Talk
- Foundry: Foundry Virtual BC card
- Kids Help Phone: About us
- Province of BC: Crisis and information lines
- HelpStartsHere (BC government): Chinese and Korean Help Lines
- S.U.C.C.E.S.S.: Help lines
- E-Comm 9-1-1 (Feb 2026): calling 9-1-1 in your language
- Crisis Centre BC: What can I expect when I call the crisis line?
- CMHA: Lean In and Listen suicide prevention guide (2025)