OKEECHOBEE – At their Feb. 8 meeting, the Okeechobee County Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation to Chad Adcock, Community Relations Specialist, from the 211 Palm Beach of the Treasure Coast proclaiming February 2024 as “211 Helpline Awareness Month.”

“Everywhere I go in the community there are people who still don’t know these resources are available,” said Adcock. “The reality is that the needs are growing. We are currently in what they are calling a mental health crisis.”

Adcock said they receive about 165,000 calls a year in the five-county area. Many of those calls are from Okeechobee County. He said 30% to 40% of the calls they receive have a mental health need.

“Suicide calls are on the rise,” he added.

According to the county staff report, 211 is a community helpline and crisis hotline that provides suicide prevention, crisis intervention, information, assessment, and referral to community services for people of all ages. We proudly serve; Indian River County, Martin County, Okeechobee County, Palm Beach County, and St. Lucie County.

211 Helpline provides life-saving crisis support and guidance when people are overwhelmed and don’t know where to turn. During these challenging times that include pandemic impact and economic instability and recent hurricanes, 211’s caring and highly trained staff have been the front-line responders 24/7 through it all.

People of all ages and walks of life are reaching out for their growing struggles with mental & emotional health, addiction, housing, health and other concerns. 211 has specialized advocacy and support programs for the community that include Caregiver Support, Help Me Grow and 211’s life-saving “Sunshine” daily phone calls which continue to brighten the lives of isolated seniors and caregivers.