Application to use 511 for crisis prevention submitted to CRTC

An application from a variety of groups to use 511 for crisis prevention has upped the ante in the battle for Canada’s last available three-digit code. The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP), which is part of the Canadian Distress Line Network, and the Canadian Mental Health Association submitted the application on February 15. The Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada (ITS Canada) sparked a public consultation last year when it submitted an application seeking use of the number (Telecom Public Notice 2005-5; NL, Feb. 2/05) for traffic and weather information. While the ITS Canada application had problems, most of the comments generally agreed that the use of the 511 code according to ITS Canada’s proposal would serve the public interest. CASP intervened, however, in October 2005, noting that ITS Canada’s proposed use of 511 didn’t meet requirements as set out by the CRTC. "In particular, ITS Canada has not demonstrated that ‘there must be a compelling need for three-digit access that cannot be satisfied by other dialing arrangements’ nor have they demonstrated that ‘existing dialing arrangements are not suitable for accessing the needed services,’" wrote CASP in its comments, highlighting commission criteria. "CASP/ACPS submits that uniform dialing access via 7-digit dialing or via toll-free dialing (e.g., 10-digit dialing) is a reasonable and appropriate means to access information/services proposed by ITS Canada," continued the submission. The suicide prevention association has since filed a Part VII seeking the allocation of the 511 code for "urgent crisis intervention and suicide prevention services via telephone on a non-commercial basis throughout Canada." ITS Canada took exception to the CASP filing. In a February 20 letter, the group has asked the commission to "respect the fairness of the public proceeding in PN 2005-5. This proceeding represents over a year’s worth of work by all parties, including the commission." (For more on ITS Canada’s response, refer to the Newsmakers section in this issue.) CASP maintains in its application that suicide and urgent crisis intervention activities would be best suited for the 511 code. The association notes in its application that these activities are undermined by the lack of an easy-to-access service. "The accessibility of the crisis intervention and suicide prevention services that these volunteers and professionals offer and their ability to intervene in a crisis situation are both severely hampered in Canada by the fact that there is no universally recognized three-digit access code for Canadians to call when overwhelmed by personal crisis," reads CASP’s Part VII. The association contends that crisis intervention has become increasingly difficult because there are multiple organizations throughout the country using different phone numbers. CASP maintains that the move from seven-digit dialing to 10-digit dialing is increasing the complexity of delivering these vital services. "By making 511 synonymous with crisis intervention and suicide prevention in the same way that 911 is synonymous with emergency response services, Canadians from all regions and from all social, economic and ethnic backgrounds will develop an awareness of the number to call when they are overwhelmed by loneliness, loss, grief, isolation, pain and depression," reads the CASP application. "A well-publicized three-digit number for crisis will recognize the number to access a well-trained, crisis interventionist – night or day, always."

Application to use 511 for crisis prevention submitted to CRTC

News | March 7, 2006

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