Is AI mental health support available 24/7?
By Siri Bandagiriye · Yes, and that's one of its real strengths: an app is there at 2am and on holidays. But available isn't the same as enough. In a crisis in Canada, call or text 988, which has trained people answering around the clock.
Yes. That is one of the real strengths. Saati is there at 2am, on holidays, and during the long weeks on a waitlist.
But available isn't the same as enough. If you're in crisis, call or text 988, which has trained people answering around the clock.
Saati is a companion for hard nights, not an emergency service.
What the research says
Being always on is a main draw: 44% of people in Canada who use AI for mental health cite 24/7 access as a reason.1
Human crisis help is also there around the clock: Canada's 9-8-8 line offers 24/7/365 support by call or text and had answered 1,133,070 calls and texts by August 2026.2
Young people can reach Kids Help Phone 24/7 across Canada by calling 1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868.3
Written by Siri Bandagiriye
I've been a Buddhist monk and mindfulness teacher for 30 years, and for six years a chaplain with Correctional Service Canada, sitting with people in crisis. I built Saati in Halifax as a companion for the ordinary hard days. If you'd like to see what it's like, it's free to try.