211 Broward & 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast provide successful support line In collaboration with the State of Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. June 24, 2024 – In response to the growing challenges faced by dedicated first responders and their families, in 2022, the State of Florida and the Department of Children and Families partnered with 211 Broward and 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast to launch Hero4Hero. This 24/7 confidential peer support line has been offering comprehensive mental health support, ensuring that our Heroes receive the care they deserve around the clock. Since its launch in Broward, Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast areas, there have been more than 24,000 life saving calls or visits to the website for support.
Hero4Hero serves current and former first responders, including 911 Dispatchers, Corrections/Detention Officers, Emergency Medical Technicians, Firefighters, Paramedics, Law Enforcement, and their families. The support line is staffed by former first responders and peer support specialists who are extensively trained to provide comprehensive support to current and former first responders and their families.
Hero4Hero provides toll-free access to regional, statewide, and national resources that can help address the behavioral health needs of first responders and their families. First responders and their family members can reach the support line at 866-760-HERO (4376) or learn more at www.Hero4Hero.org.
The repeated daily exposure to stressful and disturbing events can take a mental toll on one’s health, creating mental health challenges and PTSD for both responders and/or their family members. More than half of first responders surveyed described their stress levels as acute, episodic, or chronic, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families and Division of Emergency Management. Firefighters, police officers, 911 dispatchers, corrections officers and emergency service personnel are the first to respond to emergencies, they are sometimes the last to ask for help.
For the past two years, the Hero4Hero support line has helped target the complex needs of first responders and their family members who are coping with stress, trauma, depression, thoughts of suicide, and other pressures from daily life. Hero4Hero aims to transform system-wide suicide prevention to save lives in the first responder community by facilitating confidential access to community resources, emotional support, crisis support, trauma-informed care, care coordination, mental health and substance use treatment, and suicide prevention.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health:
- Law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. In fact, when comparing the number of first responder suicide deaths from 2017-2022, most of
- The suicide deaths are among EMS professionals and firefighters.
- EMS providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than the public.
- Between 17% and 24% of public safety telecommunicators have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and 24% have symptoms of depression.
Calls to the Hero4Hero support line are confidential and can be anonymous. The support line is not affiliated with first responders’ employers, insurances, or employee assistance programs.
This support line is supported by the Southeast Florida First Responder Support Coalition, a partnership between 211 Broward, 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Group Victory, Public Safety Chaplaincy, Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network, and United Way of Broward County.
First responders and their families are there for us. Hero4Hero is here for them. There is strength in reaching out.
Like us or follow Hero4Hero on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083741764079
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hero4hero_fl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hero4Hero_FL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hero4hero
About 211 Broward:
The mission of 211 Broward is to provide a 24-hour comprehensive helpline and support services to individuals and families in our community seeking crisis intervention assistance and/or information and connections to health and human services in Broward County. Every call to 211 is answered by a trained, degreed counselor who listens to the caller’s concerns, identifies their needs and connects them with agencies and programs that can help them. 211 Broward relies on the generous support of government agencies, corporations, foundations, and individuals to provide this vital community service. To connect with 211 Broward, dial 2-1-1 or 954-537-0211, download the app and/or text zip code to 898211. For more information regarding 211 and how you can help, please contact Tracy Schuldiner, Chief Advancement & Community Relations Officer, at 754-551-4172 or visit www.211-broward.org.
About 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast:
The mission of 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast is to save lives through crisis intervention and by connecting people to health, mental health, and wellness services 24 hours a day every day. 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast started as a volunteer run 24-hour substance abuse and crisis hotline, founded by renowned psychologist Dr. Robert K. Alsofrom, who was passionate about helping people struggling with depression, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse. Over the years the hotline has responded to the needs of the community and become one of the most utilized resources for all of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. To connect with 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, dial 2-1-1 or 561-383-1112, text your zip code to 898211 or email help@211pbtc.org.
