Help is only a phone call away.
211 Day is coming up on Feb. 11 and aims to spread awareness across Canada.
It’s a free, confidential helpline that connects people to the social services, programs and community supports they need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
United Way Manager of Communications Chad Alberico said that 211 received 1,500 calls from Perth-Huron, including 748 from Stratford.
211 also has resources for abuse/assault, family services, disabilities, health care, homelessness, and Indigenous peoples.
United Way Perth-Huron Executive Director Ryan Erb said they’re grateful that this service is available for everybody.
“They have a live counsellor that is helping people from right here in Ontario, who are on the phone, and they’ll work with you compassionately to try to help you find a solution,” said Erb.
“It’ll help you access some food, or some money, or a mental health service that you need, and if someone calls in crisis, they’ll even do a call transfer to another program just to make sure that person’s safe.”
United Way provides funding to the service along with provincial and federal dollars.
For details, click here.
