WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but for some people, it is creating tremendous stress and anxiety.
Figures released by the Medical Examiner's Office in Palm Beach County show a 31% increase in suicides this year from Jan. 1 through Oct. 31. The Treasure Coast saw a similar 32% rise.
However, there are many resources available to those in need.
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Managing the Pressure
If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, you can find help here in Palm Beach County, Okeechobee or the Treasure Coast.
211 HelpLine can be reached by calling:
2-1-1
(561) 383-1112
(866) 882-2991
211 Helpline can also be reached by texting, online chat or email:
- Text your zip code to 898211 (available 24/7)
- Click here for Online Chat (available 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily)
- 211 HelpLine via email: help@211pbtc.org
OTHER SOURCES
Call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people in suicidal crisis or distress. You can learn more about its services here, including its guide on what to do if you see suicidal language on social media.
You can also call 1-800-273-8255 to talk to someone about how you can help a person in crisis. Call 1-866-488-7386 for the TrevorLifeline, a suicide prevention counseling service for the LGBTQ community.
Text HOME to 741741 to have a confidential text conversation with a trained crisis counselor from Crisis Text Line. Counselors are available 24/7. You can learn more about how their texting service works here.
For online chat, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides a confidential chat window, with counselors available 24/7. Boys Town also provides counselors for youth-specific online chat at this link. It is available every Monday through Friday between 6 p.m. and midnight in the Central time zone.
For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454. For support outside of the U.S., a worldwide directory of resources and international hotlines is provided by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. You can also turn to Befrienders Worldwide.