By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Following Monday’s endorsement by Northumberland County council’s Community Health standing committee, the 988 project won the endorsement Wednesday of its Economic Development, Tourism and Planning Standing Committee.
In both cases, the endorsement will be conveyed to county council for its May 19 meeting.
Also in both cases, the endorsement came as a result of correspondence from the Town of Caledon asking for support of its own resolution applauding the simple three-digit number at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for suicide-prevention services by 200%.
“I would hope it achieves the goal,” committee member Bob Sanderson commented.
Committee chair John Henderson noted that this mental-health issue had come up in a recent meeting in which Cobourg Police Services addressed town council.
“The numbers in this area are ever-increasing, so I concur with that,” Henderson said.
“I think the need is high, and I would just like somehow to emphasize to the government that this number needs to be answered and dealt with,” Sanderson agreed.
“And I would certainly urge that the infrastructure of support is adequate.”
“I heartily agree this should be supported,” committee member Bob Crate concurred.
