As students head back to school, 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast is reminding families that its free, confidential helpline is available at any hour—whether they are facing a crisis, searching for community resources or simply need someone to talk to.

The back-to-school outreach coincides with National Wellness Month, which 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast President and CEO Ty Barnes says offers a reminder that mental and emotional health deserves the same attention as physical health.

The free, confidential 211 helpline serves Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties, an area with about 2.2 million residents. Anyone may use the service.

“No breaks, no weekends, no holidays. We are always here,” Barnes says.

The nonprofit began in Palm Beach County in 1971 as a drug hotline before expanding into crisis counseling and suicide prevention. Its directory contains about 5,000 resources covering mental health, substance use, food, housing, health care and financial assistance, along with specialized programs for children with special needs and their families, veterans, first responders, and seniors.

The organization also serves as the region’s front-line responder for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Calls to 988 from the five-county area are answered by local specialists trained to assist people experiencing emotional distress, a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts.

Barnes says many residents have heard of 211 without understanding the range of help it provides. A common misconception is that a person must be in a full-blown crisis before calling.

“Sometimes people just need to talk to somebody,” Barnes says. Others need help identifying resources they did not know exist.

The service is also available to case managers, guidance counselors and others who are helping someone find support.

Last year, 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast handled more than 125,000 requests for help, a number Barnes attributes to greater awareness, population growth and economic pressures.

Back-to-school changes can strain families as parents juggle work, transportation and child care while managing the cost of school supplies and other annual expenses. Students must adjust to new routines, teachers, classmates and academic expectations, and some worry about social changes or bullying.

“Back-to-school time is a really exciting time, but it can be one of the most stressful times of the year for families,” Barnes says. “I don’t think that stress discriminates.”

Barnes encourages caregivers to watch for persistent changes in children’s sleeping or eating habits, withdrawal from friends or activities, irritability, difficulty concentrating, or reluctance to go to school. While some changes are normal during the transition, he says, families should seek support when those changes persist or interfere with daily life.

Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898211 to reach a trained specialist.