Noteboom The Law Firm

More Female Veterans Calling South Florida 211 Helpline

December 1, 2010 - South Florida employs several 211 helplines, which provide various forms of counseling for callers, including around-the-clock suicide counselors. Helpline callers are put into contact with various types of support services available across the state, depending on need. Traditionally women call the helplines more than men, at a rate of 2:1. Helpline operators have reported a swelling number of calls being received from veterans. 

Between January and August the Palm Beach/Treasure Coast helplines logged 740 calls from Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The majority of the calls are from veterans asking for either help with substance abuse or financial help to sustain basic living necessities such as:

• Rent;
• Health care;
• Food;
• Mortgages;
• Utilities; and
• Finding shelter.

It is believed the number of female veterans calling the helplines is also increasing. Operators are reporting that many of the female veterans are calling to get help with mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suffering sexual trauma while in the military, and becoming single parent caregivers as many are facing divorce following their deployment.

While the reasons behind the phone calls are serious, the fact that these veterans are reaching out for help is a good sign. The more calls received looking for help with mental health problems, the more the stigma of suffering from a mental condition is overcome. For many who just want to assimilate back into the civilian world, looking for help is a good step in the right direction.