We are here for you
no matter what you need
The Montreal SPC has connections to several other organizations that may be of assistance to support and accompany you.
Browse resources by topics:
Topics:
TRACOM
Intervention, housing and community follow up. <span class="wixui-rich-text__text">We offer crisis intervention services 24/7 that are</span> free<span class="wixui-rich-text__text">, confidential and bilingual.</span>
Accueil Bonneau
Meals/clothing, clinic, psychosocial intervention, activities, social reintegration/training/employability (8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday)
SOS Dettes
Organization offering confidential, professional and personalized credit and debt management services
Grossesse-Secours
Pregnancy helpline, support and information, pregnancy testing service pregnancy tests, individual and group meetings and community thrift shop (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday)
Women's Centre of Montreal
Services for women in English, French, Spanish and Creole. Help psychosocial, individual meetings and support groups (no accommodation) (9am to 5pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 9am to 9pm Tuesday and Thursday)
Halte-Ami
Anonymous, confidential, free helpline (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday)
Le Chaînon
Helpline for women aged 18+, accommodation and individual follow-up (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
La vigile
Helpline for people who have worn or are wearing a uniform (ambulance drivers, police officers, etc.) and who work in the helping professions (24/7).
Veterans' helpline
Listening and support line for veterans and their loved ones (24/7).
Tel-Aînés
Helpline, telephone follow-up, home visits, conferences and support group for the 60+ population. Available from 10am to 10pm daily
Le Havre
Free, confidential, anonymous telephone helpline. Possibility of attending in person without appointment (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Intervention and support line for incarcerated people and their loved ones
Available from 9:30am to 3pm from Monday to Friday
L'Appui
Listening, information and referral services for caregivers and their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. Available 8am to 8pm from Monday to Friday
Avant de craquer
Support for loved ones of people with mental health problems. Individual follow-up and support groups.
Addiction Rehabilitation Centre
Assistance, short-term accommodation and referral. For young people aged 24 and under, drop-in service. (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday)
Alcoholics Anonymus
Listening, help and referral services for alcoholics in the Montreal area (9am-10pm, daily)
L'Anonyme
Mobile supervised injection service (10:45 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. daily), sex education workshops and accommodation available
Statistics
In Quebec
Still today there are 3 suicides per day in Quebec.
In Montreal
In Montreal, there is an average of 4 suicides per week.
Interventions
In 2022, the Montreal SPC carried out more than 33,707 suicide prevention interventions.
Our services users
50% of people who contact our 1st line services are thinking of suicide.
Increasing demand
Since 2020, the Montreal SPC recorded a 40% increase in demand for suicide prevention services.
Grieving people
Between 6 and 10 people will experience grief for one death by suicide. Each year, approximately 9,024 people are bereaved by suicide.
Increase among young people
The rate of emergency room visits due to suicide attempts increased by approximately 80% between 2019 and 2021 among girls aged 10–14 and by approximately 20% among adolescent girls and young women aged 15–19.
Second leading cause of death
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth aged 15–34, behind accidents.
Men are more at risk
The suicide rate is three times higher for men than for women.
Increase among women
In the last year, there has been a slight increase in the suicide rate for women aged 65 and over.
Increase among women
Over the past 6 years, serious suicidal ideation among girls aged 15 to 19 and women aged 20 to 34 has increased.
Number of hospitalizations
Each year, more than 3,600 hospitalizations are related to a suicide attempt.
Number of attempts
An estimated 6,300 suicide attempts are made each year in Quebec. It is estimated that for each suicide, there are 30 suicide attempts.
Among the population
Approximately 4% of Montrealer say they have attempted suicide in their lifetime.
Attempts in the subway
Most of the time, suicide attempts that take place in the subways do not result in death and instead lead to long hospitalizations, loss of motor skills, loss of autonomy, severe disability, additional burden for the family, etc.
Other attempts
75% of people who have attempted suicide will attempt it again within 6 months of the initial attempt.
Myths and facts
Here are a few myths and realities to help you demystify suicide and help you understand the taboos surrounding this topic.
People in a suicidal crisis have formally decided to die
False. People considering suicide want to stop suffering, not die. The person experiences ambivalence about his or her desire to live and the impossibility of continuing to suffer. It is by understanding this ambivalence and finding hopeful solutions that we will be able to intervene with the person and make him or her see that there are other possibilities. At this point, the person is like being stuck in a box where nothing is possible anymore, our role is to get them out of this box.
When someone attempts or dies by suicide, their relatives are more likely to consider suicide
True. Although suicide is multifactorial and not attributable to any one event or factor, it is important to understand that the closeness of the family to the deceased and the importance given to them can lead to imitation of the suicide by a family member. Thus, a suicide or an attempt in a family may now be perceived as a possible way to solve one’s problems or to end a more difficult period.
Talking about suicide encourages it.
False. Talking about suicide is important. It goes a long way to demystifying the subject and helping people who need help. Asking a person if they are thinking about suicide will not give them the idea to attempt suicide, but rather an opening for them to seek help. It is important to ask the right questions when we are worried about someone else. If the person says yes, it is important to direct them to the appropriate resources so that they can get help as soon as possible.
If the person is thinking about suicide, they will feel that they can talk freely about what they are experiencing and will feel less alone. Because suicide is still a taboo and stigmatized subject, people who are thinking about suicide often don’t know who to talk to or how to talk about it. So, even if it can be difficult, don’t hesitate to be proactive and talk about it. There are different ways to talk about suicide with a loved one.
All people who consider suicide are depressed
False: Although people who consider suicide may experience periods of depression; they do not necessarily show signs of depression. The signs of distress may be different from person to person and the person may even try to hide these signs as best they can. Aggressiveness, impatience, irritability, or any change in the person’s typical behaviour can hide great distress.
Suicide is an illness
False. Suicide is not an illness. It is a behaviour that reflects the unhappiness and distress of the person who considers suicide.
You can help someone thinking of suicide without being a mental health professional.
True. Anyone can help a loved one who is suffering with the means at their disposal, while respecting their limits. Knowing how to recognize the warning signs, opening up a dialogue, and finding solutions for the person are ways of supporting a loved one. With openness, understanding and mutual aid, it is possible to prevent suicide. However, when helping someone with their suicidal thoughts whether they’re a professional or a loved one, the same rule applies; one must never be left alone; one must absolutely get help.
There are different resources we can refer a person to, depending on the situation. You can also contact us at any time to discuss your concerns.
Someone considering suicide needs to ask for help themselves.
False. Someone thinking about suicide does not always have the ability to ask for help. It is important to know that a person who is considering suicide may have difficulty believing that they can be helped and that their situation can change. Being proactive and helping these people is therefore essential to breaking their isolation. Just the act of accompanying a person in reaching out for help can make a big difference.
There is no evidence that interventions with people who have asked for help themselves are more effective than those with people who have been offered help. So, it can be helpful to know how to help a loved one in a suicidal crisis and how to support their recovery.
Suicide happens without warning.
False. Suicide does not happen spontaneously. People who die by suicide usually show warning signs.
This myth, which suggests that suicide is a spontaneous act, assumes that it is impossible to identify someone who is considering suicide and therefore to prevent suicide. On the contrary, since suicide is rarely a spontaneous act, there are warning signs that can be detected in a person in distress, even if they are sometimes difficult to identify. These may be messages the person is expressing or changes in behaviour or mood. To remain vigilant and to be able to help people at risk of suicide, it is important to know how to recognize the signs of psychological and suicidal distress.
