TAO Tel-Aide Francophone Helpline in Saskatchewan
There is no denying the fact that when in emotional and psychological distress, it is not easy to express your feelings. This is especially true when English is not your first language.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is pleased to partner with the Saskatchewan French Health Network and the Ministry of Health to eliminate language as a barrier for accessing mental health care in Saskatchewan Francophone communities.
To achieve this objective, these partners have engaged the services of TAO Tel-Aide to make its French-only helpline available to Saskatchewan residents that are experiencing any form of psychological distress or are in need of emotional support. This service will be available starting December 1, 2020.
Saskatchewan has about 17,740 people who speak French as their first language and a further 51,895 people confirmed knowing French in the province. This initiative is one way SHA is working to better support French-speaking patients and their families, in the hopes of extending that support to other languages in the future. This service is complementary to services provided by HealthLine 811, which offers translation into over 100 languages.
TAO Tel-Aide, which originally offers a French-only mental health service to its clients in Ottawa, has successfully provided the same support to French speakers across other provinces, and Saskatchewan is no exception. This helpline provides a free, 24/7 empathic and confidential service by trained volunteers and a team of professionals who give compassionate ears to callers and offer the needed services.
If you have the need to call, someone is ready to listen to you and give you the needed support.
Just call 1-800-567-9699 for free.