Call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or dial 211 to reach Palm Beach County’s local crisis line and a mobile response team. Call 911 and ask for a CIT officer if the danger is immediate. Trained crisis counselors answer any hour at (866) 629-4564.
A Palm Beach County suicide prevention hotline answers around the clock at (866) 629-4564, free and confidential, for anyone facing suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Based in the county, a trained crisis counselor listens any hour and helps you decide what comes next. Dial 211 for the county crisis line and a mobile team, or text 988. In immediate danger, call 911.
Local Roots in Palm Beach County
Our hotline operates out of Palm Beach County, so the community we serve is our own. A trained crisis counselor answers at (866) 629-4564 at any hour to listen, talk through what is happening, and help you decide what comes next. Alongside our line, the county runs a strong crisis network: 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast handles local crisis calls and 988 overflow, and mobile teams travel to people in distress. Neighbors call from Boynton Beach, from West Palm Beach after a hard stretch, and from Delray Beach worried about someone close to them, and every call is free. You do not have to be at the edge to call, and you can keep it anonymous.
Choosing the Right Number in a Crisis
Match the number to the moment. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911, and you can ask for a Crisis Intervention Team officer trained to handle mental health calls. For an urgent mental health crisis that is not immediately life-threatening, dial 211 for Palm Beach County’s crisis line, or call or text 988. A trained crisis counselor at (866) 629-4564 stays on the line with you and helps you weigh these choices. Whichever you reach, the person answering can help you shape a short safety plan covering warning signs, coping steps, and the people you can turn to.
Getting Through the Next Few Minutes
If the feelings are intense right now, a few simple steps can help you hold on until you reach someone. Put distance between yourself and anything you could use to hurt yourself, and move to a room where someone else is nearby if you can. Call or text one of the numbers on this page and say out loud that you are struggling, even if the words come out messy. Slow your breathing by breathing in for four counts and out for six, a few times. You do not have to fix everything tonight; you only have to get through the next few minutes, and someone can stay with you while you do.
Warning Signs to Take Seriously
Certain signs mean it is time to reach out for yourself or someone else in Palm Beach County. Watch for suicidal ideation or talk about wanting to die or being a burden, withdrawing from friends and family, giving away belongings, sudden calm after a low period, increased use of alcohol or drugs, and dramatic changes in sleep or mood. Noticing even one of these is reason enough to call 211 or 988, or to check in gently with the person you are worried about. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need the perfect words. Making contact is what matters.
When You Need Someone to Come to You in Palm Beach County
Some situations call for an in-person response, and Palm Beach County has mobile teams for exactly that. Dial 211 and tell the counselor you would like someone to come talk with you; 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast arranges a mobile crisis response team member to meet you where you are. The line runs 24 hours a day, takes calls and texts, and also answers 988 for the county. For a walk-in or stabilization need, South County Mental Health Center in Delray Beach operates a 24-hour crisis stabilization unit.
Palm Beach County Crisis Numbers
The resources below serve Palm Beach County directly, and most run around the clock. Each is a real local or national service you can reach right now.
| Resource | How It Helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | Call or text for a trained counselor, routed to a Florida crisis center. | 988 |
| 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast | County crisis line; arranges mobile crisis teams; answers 988. 24/7. | 211 or (866) 882-2991 |
| 211 by text | Text your ZIP code for confidential crisis counseling. | Text ZIP to 898211 |
| South County Mental Health Center | 24-hour crisis stabilization unit, Delray Beach. | (561) 495-0522 |
| NAMI Palm Beach County | Support, education, and guidance for families, West Palm Beach. | (561) 588-3477 |
| Veterans Crisis Line | For veterans and service members; press 1 after dialing, or text 838255. | 988 then Press 1 |
| Emergency (ask for a CIT officer) | Immediate danger; request a Crisis Intervention Team officer. | 911 |
Understanding the Baker Act in Palm Beach County
The Baker Act is Florida’s law that allows a person to be taken for a short involuntary mental health examination when they are a danger to themselves or others and will not accept help on their own. It is meant for genuine emergencies, and it is not the starting point for most crises. In Palm Beach County, calling 211 or 988 first almost always connects you to voluntary support, which keeps you in control of what happens next. If an examination is needed, a person is taken to a state-designated Baker Act receiving facility, where a professional has up to 72 hours to complete the assessment and decide on next steps. South County Mental Health Center in Delray Beach is one of the county’s crisis facilities. Knowing how the process works ahead of time makes it far less frightening if you or someone you love ever faces it.
How Our Line Works With County Services
Our phone line and the county’s services are not an either-or choice, and they often work best together. A trained crisis counselor can help you judge whether talking tonight is enough or whether you should dial 211 or 988 for a mobile team in Palm Beach County. When you are looking for ongoing care, the same counselor can describe what to look for in a local provider and point you toward 211, which keeps an updated directory of free mental health services across the county.
Serving Communities From Boca Raton to Jupiter
Our support reaches the whole of Palm Beach County, from Boca Raton and Delray Beach in the south, through Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and Wellington, up to West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and Jupiter in the north. Wherever you are in the county, the path is the same: call (866) 629-4564 to talk now, or dial 211 to reach a Palm Beach County crisis counselor and, if you want, a mobile team.
Questions People in Palm Beach County Ask
Is This Hotline Actually Located in Palm Beach County?
Yes. Our team is based in Palm Beach County and answers calls 24/7 at (866) 629-4564. We are a phone hotline rather than a walk-in clinic, so for an in-person response you can dial 211 to have a mobile crisis team sent to you.
What Should I Do If I Am in Crisis Right Now in Palm Beach County?
Reach a person immediately: call or text 988, or dial 211 for the county crisis line, which can also send a mobile team. Call 911 and ask for a Crisis Intervention Team officer if you are in immediate danger. Trained crisis counselors are also on the line at (866) 629-4564.
What Is 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast?
It is the county’s 24/7 crisis and community helpline, funded by United Way of Palm Beach County. Dial 211 or (866) 882-2991, or text your ZIP code to 898211. Staff provide crisis counseling, suicide prevention, and can arrange a mobile crisis team, and they also answer 988 calls for the area.
Are Calls to the Hotline Private?
Yes, and the call is always free. Calls are confidential and you can remain anonymous. What you share is not passed along without your consent, with the one exception of a situation where a life is in immediate danger. You are welcome to call just to talk.
I Am Worried About a Family Member in Palm Beach County. Can You Help?
Yes. Many people call about a loved one rather than themselves. A trained crisis counselor can walk you through the warning signs, how to raise the subject, and how to connect the person to 211 or 988 for local support and, if needed, a mobile crisis visit.
What Happens If I Call 911 During a Mental Health Crisis?
Call 911 when there is immediate physical danger. In Palm Beach County you can ask for a Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, officer, who has training in responding to mental health situations. For a crisis that is urgent but not immediately dangerous, 211 or 988 is often the better first call.
I Am a Veteran in Palm Beach County. Is There a Crisis Line for Me?
Yes. Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255, to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, staffed by people who understand military and veteran experience. Palm Beach County is also served by the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and local Vet Centers in West Palm Beach and Jupiter. You can also call our line any hour at (866) 629-4564.
My Child or Teen Is in Crisis. Where Do I Turn in Palm Beach County?
Dial 211 for the county crisis line, which serves families and can send a mobile crisis team, or call or text 988. South County Mental Health Center in Delray Beach offers 24-hour crisis stabilization. Call 911 and ask for a CIT officer if your child is in immediate danger.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Courtney Scott, MD, a physician specializing in addiction medicine with more than a decade of experience in emergency, internal, and addiction medicine. Last reviewed August 2026.
Help is close by, tonight. Trained crisis counselors answer at (866) 629-4564 at any hour. For Palm Beach County crisis services, dial 211 or call or text 988. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and ask for a CIT officer.
