For several years, 35 organizations across the country represented by 19 individuals have been meeting to look at ways to create a united, unified service to help individuals contemplating suicide.

Elizabeth Fisk, National Suicide Prevention Service, Implementation Manager, says things are coming together well, both on the technological and service level basis.

"We hope to have this service operational and available to all Canadians in 2017."

Testing has been happening in BC, Alberta, and Ontario on a technical level.

"The testing is technical to see whether or not the conductivity is there, we are happy that the existing centres are going to be able to link into a virtual contact centre environment which will ensure that the calls from Alberta are responded to in Alberta, and calls from any other provinces go to those provinces, even though everyone can call one simple number."

Fisk, says it is important for calls to be answered from a support worker with in their home province.

"The training is going to be the same across the country but will be provided locally, because the responders will be local. Everybody across the country settles on a standards of practice, a uniformed training protocol, but then it is delivered locally. That provides us with those in the regional area to have a sense of not only the referral agencies or organizations that work in the area  but also to become culturally sensitive and aware to what the differences are in areas across the country."

Creating a national service is extremely important, adds Fisk, as suicide is a problem that exists across the country.

"We know suicide is the second leading cause of death for children and youth, for adults 45-65 years of age it is the seventh leading cause of death, it is the third leading cause of death for adults 30-44 years of age and males account for 75% of those suicides."

Not only is the number of suicides concerning but also the number of attempts and bereaved family members left behind.

Fisk shares while they haven't confirmed the exact number yet, it will be a simplified, recognizable number across the country.

"There will certainly be a shorter number on the text side, we are still contemplating what our number will be on the phones, but will be easily recognizable and one number across the country.