The counselors at Switchboard Miami talk to between 300 and 400 people every week who are troubled enough to call in and discuss suicide.
"If someone is in immediate crisis we will work with them and call in or dispatch a mobile crisis team or the police to their address," director Jeff Struchtemeyer said.
The experts at Switchboard Miami say it's often hard to tell if a friend or family member is feeling suicidal, so don't be bashful if you suspect depression.
"In our society we're afraid to talk about suicide, I think it's ok to ask individuals if they're feeling suicidal, and the more the community can talk about suicide the more individuals will realize there is help," Struchtemeyer said.
Making that call to 211 isn't the only option anymore to get help, if you're in distress you can also get help by sending a text to 741741.
The apparent suicide of former Miami-Dade Police Director Robert Parker brings up the question about police killing themselves. Statistically, only doctors and dentists have a higher suicide rate per profession, but bad guys kill more cops than suicide does. Still, law enforcement is a stressful profession.
If you do think someone you know is suicidal, you can call the 211 hotline for them.
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"We are here to help, and that's the loudest message that should come across, the fact that we stand ready, 24/7, 365 days a year, in English, Spanish, and Creole," Switchboard's Ana Martinez said.
For more information, visit SwitchboardMiami.org.
