2-1-1 From "Hello" to Help

2-1-1 NWFL, FL Veterans Support Line & 9-8-8 are Here for You.

If there is an immediate danger or a life threatening emergency, call 911 right away.

2-1-1

Imagine your family is on the verge of homelessness. The rent is past due, the mortgage is behind, and you are trying to figure out where to turn before things fall apart. In moments like that, the hardest part is often not just finding help, it is knowing what help exists, who to call, and how to reach it quickly.

That is exactly why 211 Northwest Florida exists. 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, information and referral service that connects people to local resources through one simple access point. When you contact 211, you are connected with a local Information and Referral Specialist who can help you navigate available options based on your situation, your location, and your needs. 211 maintains current information on critical community supports, including emergency food and shelter, rent and utility assistance, services for families and seniors, healthcare and childcare resources, disability services, counseling and mental health support, and much more. It is a one stop connection designed to help people find the right resource faster, with less stress and less guesswork.

Getting connected is easy. Dial 2-1-1 from any phone, anytime. Calls are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 211 Northwest Florida serves Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington Counties, and if you are outside the service area, 211 can still help connect you to services nationwide. You can also connect by text. Simply text your zip code to 898211 to reach an Information and Referral Specialist through the new text message service, available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If there is an immediate danger or a life threatening emergency, call 911 right away.

Florida Veterans Support Line

If you are a Veteran and you are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, relationship strain, or thoughts of suicide, you do not have to carry it alone and you do not have to figure it out by yourself. In hard moments, it can be difficult to know where to turn, what services you qualify for, or how to ask for help. The Florida Veterans Support Line exists for exactly that reason: to make sure Veterans and their loved ones can reach someone who understands and can connect them to real support.

The Florida Veterans Support Line is a free, confidential, statewide peer support and connection line that helps Florida Veterans, service members, and their families find the assistance they need. When you call, you will reach trained responders, including peers who are familiar with military culture, who can listen without judgment, offer support in the moment, and help connect you to resources. That can include mental health and counseling services, VA related support, local community programs, and other tools that help Veterans stay safe, stable, and supported.

If you or someone you love needs help, call 1 844 MYFLVET (1 844 693 5838). Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can also text 25583 for assistance. If there is an immediate danger or a life threatening emergency, call 911 right away.

9-8-8

Talking about suicidal thoughts can feel scary, but it is one of the most powerful, life saving things a person can do. Suicidal ideation often thrives in isolation and silence, when someone feels like a burden, feels trapped, or believes nothing will ever change. Reaching out to a real person breaks that isolation immediately. It creates a pause between a painful thought and a potentially irreversible action, and that pause can save a life.

That is exactly what 988 is for. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline connects you to trained crisis counselors who know how to talk with someone who is thinking about suicide in a calm, nonjudgmental, supportive way. They will listen, help you put words to what you are feeling, and work with you to lessen the intensity of the moment. They can help you sort through what is driving the thoughts, identify what has helped you cope before, and create a practical plan for the next hours and days. That may include steps like removing immediate means of self harm, identifying a safe place to be, contacting a trusted person, and connecting you to local mental health supports and follow up care. Many people who reach out just need someone to help them get through the next moment safely, and that connection can be the turning point.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, or you are worried you might hurt yourself, call or text 988 now. If you are supporting someone else, you can also call 988 for guidance on what to say and what to do next. The service is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If there is immediate danger or an injury, call 911 right away.