 |
|
VANCOUVER – The Province, in
partnership with the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of
British Columbia (Crisis Centre), the Crisis Line Association of British
Columbia, Vancouver Police Department, West Vancouver Police Department
and TELUS, has installed and activated six crisis hotline phones on the
Lions Gate Bridge, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon
announced today.
“These phones on the Lions Gate Bridge are an important
tool for suicide prevention,” said Falcon. “They will provide someone with
suicidal thoughts direct access to the Crisis Centre’s distress line at an
extremely critical time.”
Six clearly-marked yellow boxes containing wireless
telephones have been strategically placed on both sides of the Lions Gate
Bridge. Users will have two options at each of the six phones. They can choose
to be connected to the Crisis Centre for emotional support, or to a general
assistance number to report an accident or other situations on the bridge.
“Installing
phones and signage on the Lions Gate Bridge will provide a rescue option for
people who have thoughts about ending their own lives, and are desperately
seeking a way out of unbearable emotional pain,” said Ian Ross, executive director,
Crisis Centre. “Emotional support available 24/7 can be the difference between
life and death.”
When
someone connects to the Crisis Centre from the phones on the bridge, or anywhere
else in the Lower Mainland, the call is first routed to the Crisis Centre in
Vancouver. If lines are busy, the call
will be routed to one of the other crisis lines in the provincial 1-800-SUICIDE
network, a service of the Crisis Line Association of B.C., to ensure every call
is answered.
The
budget for this 12-month pilot project is $97,000. The cost of the phones and
their installation is being covered by the Ministry of Transportation and
Infrastructure. Other project partners are taking on additional portions of the
costs, with support from community donors.
-30-
|
Contact: |
Jeff Knight Ministry of Transportation
and Infrastructure 250 356-7707 |
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC |
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
