Talk4Healing help line for Indigenous women expanded across Ontario

A help line to promote the mental health and well-being of Indigenous women that was previously available only in Northern Ontario is being expanded across the province.

The Talk4Healing help line provides 24-hour telephone, text and chat services and will be available starting Oct. 19 to more than 129,000 Indigenous women throughout Ontario.

The confidential help line staffed by Indigenous women can be reached at 1-855-554-4325.

Talk4Healing is operated by Beendigen, an agency that provides shelter to Indigenous women and children experiencing violence, as well as programs and services to individuals and families.

Beendigen and the Ontario Native Women's Association say Talk4Healing offers services inIndigenous languages as well as English.

The help line received nearly 2,000 calls from Indigenous women in northern Ontario communities in the last year alone.

In January, the Ontario government committed $500,000 annually to support the help line's expansion.