​September 2022 is 211 Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month

Palm Beach County residents can rely on 211 and its highly trained and caring staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week to access guidance and support from over 1,600 agencies providing a wide​ range of programs and services. ​​

Surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and​​ Prevention have found that people have experienced considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions associated with the pandemic, and the brunt of that has been borne by younger adults, racial and ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers.  Moreover, the ensuing health, economic and housing crisis has taken its toll on mental health with increases in suicidal ideation and deaths, substance abuse, household violence, and food insecurity.

The services of 211 are all the more important as suicide fatalities have escalated and there is a call for a public health response to increase suicide intervention and prevention efforts through community-level efforts and strategies.  The 211 Palm Beach –Treasure Coast organization serves as the regional responder for the newly branded national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number.

Commissioner Maria Marino, on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners recently presented a proclamation to Sharon L'Herrou, President and CEO of 211, recognizing September 2022 as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, and urging all citizens to be aware of and share the 211 resource with others in the community who are experiencing crisis or need.​