February Spotlights “211 Awareness”, Help Spread The Word!
February 2020- Though 211 staff have made a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals and families since the helpline’s launch 49 years ago …they know they can have a positive impact in the lives of so many more. 211 is available around the clock, making it easy for people to access information on community resources and services, simply by dialing 2-1-1. Last year 211 had nearly 90,000 requests for help. On average staff receive 250 calls and contacts per day with, 10 suicide related requests for help per day.
“Honoring 211 Awareness week February 11th-17th is one way that we hope to get the word out. Our agency does “life-saving” work as a crisis line, and has also helped many others to find community resources and services they didn’t even know existed” said Sharon L’Herrou, 211’s President/CEO.
Locally, 211 HelpLine has been serving Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie County residents with caring staff that provide guidance, support and assistance to overwhelmed and distressed individuals, some who are in crisis.
“I was in a difficult situation and in a bad mental state, pregnant and alone… attempting to get out of a bad relationship. The woman at 211 who answered the phone really seemed to care, and worked hard to find the services to help me…my new son and I are doing really well now. Thank you so much for your help!” –Sarah M.
Come join us in our efforts to let the people in our community know that they can access 211 community helpline and crisis hotline any time of day or night. Get social! Like us on Facebook/211 HelpLine or Twitter & Instagram @ 211_HelpLine
Nonprofit 211 Helpline’s mission is to connect people to services 24 hours a day by understanding their individual emotional, financial and community needs and to support the health & human service system as a whole.
Crisis intervention can be reached 24/7 by dialing 2-1-1, texting your concerns and zip code to 898211 or also through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) which is answered in this region by 211 staff. Online Crisis Chat is also available: visit www.211palmbeach.org or www.211treasurecoast.org #Help.Starts.Here
211 Awareness as Appearing in the Palm Beach Post
By Emily Sullivan
Posted at 2:32 PM
About 10 municipalities in Palm Beach County will recognize next week as 211 Awareness Week. The helpline offers support and services over the phone, email or text.
A 24/7 confidential helpline to support people in finding resources and coping with emotional distress is getting recognized across Palm Beach County as officials declare Feb. 11 to Feb. 17 as 211 Awareness Week.
A teen last year dialed the 211 helpline, alone and with a bottle of pills within reach, according to a 211 county snapshot report, which changes details that could identify callers.
The teen was asked to put the pills away as he and a specialist started talking through his thoughts and making a plan to connect with nearby counseling resources the next day.
Sharon L’Herrou, 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast’s president and chief executive officer, encouraged anyone to reach out to the helpline if they’re unsure whether to do so.
“It’s free and we’re there for you,” she said. “We’re here for people 24/7.”
The teen’s call was one of 47,863 countywide the helpline answered in 2019, plus 491 emails – help@211pbtc.org ― and texts ― 898211. The helpline also extends services including daily calls to older residents, a special needs line, and crisis and veteran support.
Top needs across the nonprofit’s five-county region include mental health and addictions as well as housing, which topped the chart in Boynton Beach, where residents in total reached out to 211 for help about 4,500 times.
Boynton Beach Commissioner Mack McCray on Tuesday said “people need to be more aware of how you all help us.”
L’Herrou said 211 Awareness Week proclamations were planned for around 10 municipalities in the county ― including Boynton, Lake Worth Beach and West Palm Beach as well as several other communities outside the county.
She accepted a proclamation Tuesday from county commissioners and reeled off a few more narratives of people who’ve sought help.
There was a dad working two jobs to keep the lights on, a mom worried her kid was being teased, and a college student worried that her friend, who was depressed, could hurt herself.
L’Herrou emphasized when thinking about statistics that “each and every one of them is a person who needed help. ... I want to make sure we’re thinking about the individual lives.”
She also noted 211 staffers answer for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
In its five-county region last year, the 211 helpline picked up 3,701 suicide-related calls, matching 2018′s total. In Palm Beach County last year, that total was 943, compared to 907 a year earlier.
Media Contact: Patrice Schroeder● Community Relations ● 211 HelpLine
Phone: 561-383-1149 and also 561-809-4232.
Email: patrice.schroeder@211pbtc.org please copy Candi Spitz candi.spitz@211pbtc.org
Media Op- if you are covering this topic and would like to interview 211 crisis line staff/center please contact us.