The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced Tuesday it had confirmed a $95,000 partnership over three years with Ottawa-Gatineau-based TAO Tel-Aide to provide a help-line service covering health, mental health and community support services.
The line — which can be reached at 1 (800) 567-9699 — comes into service in the province at a time when Saskatchewan’s French-speaking residents are experiencing situations of psychological distress or simply need an empathetic ear. The service is completely free and available seven days a week and any time of the day or night.
“This partnership with TAO Tel-Aide is excellent news for Saskatchewan and timely in the context of COVID-19,” says Jenna Webb, executive director of Online Strategy and Creative Services at the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “This new service for Fransaskois residents will definitely allow for an improved active offer of services in French, increase access to information and local services, ease psychological distress and reduce isolation in our French-speaking communities while improving their well-being.”
TAO Tel-Aide’s 55 volunteers are trained to provide guidance and support within a solution-focused approach. Besides making an important contribution to preventive mental health, the TAO Tel-Aide helpline provides other benefits, including:
- reducing the demand for crisis services;
- referring callers to local mental health services;
- referring callers to French-language community support services;
- reducing the language barrier at the level of access to community services; and
- reducing the stigmatization of persons living with a mental health dynamic.
The non-profit organization has operated in Quebec for 46 years and is strongly rooted in the Francophone community in the province. The service is completely confidential and responded to 11,192 calls at its three call centres in 2019-20.
