February Safe2Tell reports hit record high, spotlighting student challenges
March 12, 2024 (DENVER) – February Safe2Tell report volume rose to the highest monthly volume in the program’s history with 3,224 reports, as students struggled with mental health issues like suicide and eating disorders. The monthly report released today reveals a 35% increase over January’s 2,387 reports.
“Safe2Tell empowers students by offering an anonymous avenue to seek help and support for their classmates, as well as themselves,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “While this increase in report volume is a sobering reminder of how much young people today are hurting, I’m encouraged by the fact that these students are being proactive in looking out for one another.”
February 2024 saw the report volume for the 2023-2024 school year rise to 18,049, continuing a trend of surpassing the previous year by nearly 40%. School complaints (380), suicide (335), and bullying (322) were among the top categories of reports.
As Safe2Tell Director, Stacey Jenkins, further explains, “Since February is a short month, this unprecedented increase in report volume is unexpected. The good news is more students than ever were connected with the help they needed, safeguarding our children’s wellbeing and safety.”
In this school year, false reports are 3.8% of all reports submitted to Safe2Tell. False reports are those that contain untrue information and are submitted with the intent to harm, injure, or bully another person.
Anonymous reports to Safe2Tell from students and other individuals successfully helped protect students’ safety this past month:
- A person reported a concern about a peer having an eating disorder because they were constantly making comments about the physical appearance of other students, and they were using the school restroom for extended periods of time after lunch. Local teams spoke with the student and their parents, and the parents said they will check on the student.
- A person reported concerns about a student who had drugs on them and was feeling suicidal. Local law enforcement conducted a welfare check and spoke with the student and their parents. As a result, the student was put on a safety plan.
Safe2Tell is a successful violence intervention and prevention program for students to anonymously report threats to their own, and others’, safety. Safe2Tell is not an emergency response unit nor mental health counseling service provider; it is an information pathway for distributing anonymous reports to local law enforcement and school officials pursuant to state law.
To make a report, individuals can call 1-877-542-7233 from anywhere, at any time. Reports also can be made at Safe2Tell.org, by texting S2TCO to 738477, or through the Safe2Tell mobile app which is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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Media Contact:
Mallory Boyce
Communications Specialist
720-508-6787 (office) | 720-219-1898 (cell)
Mallory.Boyce@coag.gov