TORONTO -- After struggling to find support when she needed it the most, an Ontario woman is calling on the government to create a three-digit suicide and crisis hotline to ensure that help is easily accessible for everyone.
Madi Muggridge said she was 13 years old when she started having thoughts about suicide and sought support online. However, after several hours waiting in a queue for chat-based service, she gave up.
鈥淣o one ever came on,鈥� she told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Thursday. 鈥淪o that was just a really disappointing experience and made me feel really alone.鈥�
Thankfully, Muggridge鈥檚 family and friends helped her find professional support. But she recognizes not everyone is so lucky.
That鈥檚 why Muggridge, who is now 19 years old and doing much better, is calling on the federal government to adopt a three-digit suicide and crisis hotline: 9-8-8.
鈥淚 know that we already have the 10-digit line and I know that they do great work already. But I just feel that if we had a line that was three-digits long, it would be very much easier to remember,鈥� she explained.
鈥淧eople wouldn鈥檛 have to go looking when they were in crisis to figure out what line they should call and they would already hopefully have it memorized.鈥�
Currently, the operates a 10-digit national hotline: 833-456-4566.
The London, Ont. woman said she was inspired to take action after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted in favour of establishing a dedicated 9-8-8 number for mental health emergencies in July.
To attract support for her cause, Muggridge has created with a target of 35,000 signatures. As of Thursday morning, it had more than 31,000.
鈥淚t kind of just kept growing and it was at 1,000 and I was like 鈥榃ow, that鈥檚 crazy鈥� and then I remember one day I just went on and it was at like 9,000 and then after that it just took off and I just I can鈥檛 even comprehend it at this point,鈥� she said.
Muggridge said she hopes the three-digit number will be adopted soon and that eventually it will develop into a dispatch service.
鈥淭his would just be widely known information,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my hope.鈥�
If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available.
Canada Suicide Prevention Helpline (1-833-456-4566)
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (1 800 463-2338)
Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566 or text 45645)
Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)
If you need immediate assistance call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
