Quebec health network and AQPS launch digital tool for suicide prevention

The health and community network are joining forces in suicide prevention and launching a new digital tool that aims to prevent psychological distress through self-care. 

This is a joint project of the Quebec Association for Suicide Prevention (AQPS) and the Provincial Centre of Expertise in Information Technology in Mental Health, Addiction and Homelessness (CETI-SMDI). 

The MesOutils.ca website launches Thursday as part of Suicide Prevention Week. It offers users a journaling platform, a self-assessment questionnaire, a safety plan, breathing exercises, and positive quotes. 

At any time, the person can access the “Need help” section where they will be able to contact a counselor through traditional channels, such as 1-866-APPELLE or suicide.ca. The tool also has a virtual assistant, which is not artificial intelligence (AI), that helps the person navigate the site according to their needs.

Artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword in suicide prevention, but Hugo Fournier, CEO of the AQPS (Quebec Association for Suicide Prevention), believes Quebec could be a leader in this field. He points out that some cases of suicide involving AI have been documented in the United States. “This is a wave that’s going to break, and the question isn’t ‘will it break,’ it’s ‘when will it happen?'” he says. 

A national committee to reflect on artificial intelligence in suicide prevention was recently established, bringing together various experts, including psychiatrists, clinicians, and AI specialists. “What we’re aiming for next fall is to be able to deploy a safe framework for the use of AI in suicide prevention,” said Fournier. 

Filling the resource gap?

A first version of MesOutils was deployed about five years ago, at the same time as Suicide.ca. “It was an application at the time, except that we were already thinking about MesOutils in 5-10 years, just as today we are thinking about Suicide.ca in 10 years. And the opportunity we had was to create something that had never been done before: a marriage between the public health care network and us, the community,” says Fournier.

Jennifer Dahak, co-director of CETI-SMDI, affiliated with Santé Québec, explains that MesOutils is often used in conjunction with other interventions, such as psychotherapy, crisis intervention, or pharmacotherapy. “All these options are valid,” she says. “There isn’t a single solution that necessarily works on its own. It’s the combination of all these elements that provides the population with the most comprehensive service possible. Especially since it’s accessible 24/7, it’s free, and it’s confidential.”

Government self-care platforms have proliferated in recent years. Is this essential in a context of resource scarcity? Dahak acknowledges that access to services can be difficult, but she argues that not everyone necessarily needs therapy with a psychologist. 

“Some people need it for certain criteria, certain symptoms, elements they experience on a daily basis, but what we are trying to do is give everyone a common basis, including for ourselves, for our loved ones and those around us,” she says. 

Fournier argues that the tool gives users “a little more power” over managing their mental health. “On its own, it can be helpful, but within the continuum of care, when a person receives support, they can become more self-reliant in their choices and in managing their mental health. I truly believe it makes a difference in suicide prevention,” he asserts, “because when we talk about mental health issues, we want to prevent the person from reaching the next level, which is suicide. So, all the upstream aspects are where the action lies.”

Dahak points out that one in two people who need help don’t seek it due to stigma and the complex organization of healthcare and social services. “Navigating the health and social services network isn’t easy,” she admits. Hence the importance of digital tools that can provide preventative support before suicidal thoughts escalate. 

On average, three people die by suicide every day in Quebec. For every death, between 20 and 30 people attempt suicide, and approximately 200 live with suicidal thoughts. 

MesOutils.ca is part of the 2022-2026 Interministerial Mental Health Action Plan.

—If you are thinking about suicide or are worried about a loved one, counselors are available at all times at 1 866 APPELLE (1 866 277-3553), by text (535353) or by chat at suicide.ca.

—The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews