On September 3, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, visited the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The Minister was joined by Chi Nguyen, Member of Parliament for Spadina-Harbourfront.
The tour highlighted CAMH’s leadership in suicide prevention through 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline, as well as its role in emergency psychiatric care and education for mental health professionals.
CAMH President and CEO Sarah Downey welcomed Minister Michel alongside Lori Spadorcia, Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs, Partnerships, and Chief Strategy Officer; Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, Senior Vice-President, Education, and Chief Medical Officer; and Dr. Allison Crawford, Psychiatrist and Clinician Scientist, Chief Medical Officer, 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline. The visit reinforced the critical role CAMH plays nationally and globally in advancing mental health care, research, education, and advocacy.
"CAMH is proud to showcase the innovation and expertise happening here every day, from our role in 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline to our groundbreaking work in patient care, education, and research” said Sarah Downey, President and CEO, CAMH.
"9-8-8 is a true national partnership that brings together responders, community organizations and leaders to ensure people in crisis can get the help they need, when they need it. We are grateful to the Government of Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and our partners across the country for helping to make timely and accessible crisis support a reality for Canadians."
Simulation Centre and Suicide Prevention Training
The Minister’s first stop was at the CAMH Simulation Centre, the first in North America and one of only two mental health simulation centres in the world. The Centre is a hub for training and professional development, reaching thousands of learners each year and helping to build the skills of mental health providers across Canada and internationally.
The Simulation Centre provides learners with realistic training opportunities, including a virtual reality suicide risk assessment tool developed in collaboration with Dr. Allison Crawford, Psychiatrist and Clinician Scientist, Chief Medical Officer, 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline. During the tour, Minister Michel tested the virtual reality experience firsthand.
‘You never feel alone on the line’
During the tour, the Minister met with 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline responders. The national three-digit helpline, launched in November 2023, has already answered close to 600,000 calls and texts from people who are thinking of suicide or worried about someone they know.
Delivered by crisis line partners across the country, and CAMH’s 9-8-8 Hub of responders, the service provides free and confidential support in English and French, 24/7/365. Specialized support is available by phone for First Nations, Inuit and Métis through our partner Hope for Wellness, and for children and young people through partners including Kids Help Phone.
Joe Lebbos, a former 9-8-8 responder who now works as a Research Analyst with the service, shared how his frontline experience shaped his commitment to supporting Canadians in crisis.
“Working as a responder during high-pressure situations gave me a deep sense of purpose,” said Joe. “It inspired me to continue my work with 9-8-8 behind the scenes, where I can help strengthen the service and expand the impact we have on people across the country.”
9-8-8 responder and CAMH employee Catarina Rosa said, “It’s a tough job and the situations we help people navigate are not easy, but the support we get from the 9-8-8 community is unmatched. You never feel alone on the line.”
The Minister commended the service’s impact and the dedication of 9-8-8 responders.
“During my visit, I saw firsthand that responders on the other end of the phone are the backbone of this vital service – they offer compassion and connection in times of crisis.” said Minister Michel. “The national 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline is a great example of partner collaboration, providing timely access to suicide prevention resources and supports to every person in Canada—anytime, anywhere.”
Emergency Department Visit
The second stop on the tour was CAMH’s Psychiatric Emergency Department (ED), the largest in Canada. The department served more than 15,000 people last year. The ED provides 24/7 specialized care for adults experiencing urgent mental health and addictions challenges. Dr. David Gratzer, Co-Chief, General Adult Psychiatry and Health Systems Division, and Dr. Leslie Buckley, Chief of Addictions spoke with the Minister about how our care teams work together to care for patients with complex mental health and addictions challenges.
The tour highlighted the importance of collaboration between CAMH, government and partners in building a stronger, more accessible mental health care system for all Canadians; one that places mental health on equal footing with physical health.
