Island Helpline wishes to advise the public that beginning March 7, 1998 calls received between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 8:00 a.m. will be redirected to alternate helpline and emergency numbers. Full personal service will continue between 8:00 a.m. and midnight.
Department of Health and Social Services Director of Child, Family and Community Services Susan Birt advised that the change will have minimal impact on service to the public. "During the past seven months, the helpline has received on average less than one call per night. The majority of calls are received between 4:00 p.m. and midnight," she said.
Island Helpline is a volunteer helpline service which provides information support, and assistance to people in crisis. It is presently being funded by the Department of Health and Social Services.
The Department completed a comprehensive review of the program after the one-year pilot project ended to determine the viability of the project and whether it is meeting its stated objectives.
Ms. Birt advised that Island Helpline is a provincial program and the Department is currently looking at options to implement the recommendations of the review to further integrate the helpline with other health services to eliminate duplication, support expansion of the volunteer base, and secure longer term funding for the service.
For more information contact: Susan Birt, Child, Family and Community Services at 902-368-6193