Safe2Tell reports rise 19% in April as students continue speaking up about safety and mental health concerns
May 12, 2026 (DENVER) – A student struggling with self-harm and depression received support after a Safe2Tell report prompted a welfare check and intervention from school officials and parents.
In another report, school officials investigated and addressed harmful online behavior after a student anonymously reported a peer was using a social media account to catfish classmates into sending explicit photos.
These are just two examples of the 3,099 reports submitted to Colorado’s Safe2Tell program in April 2026, a 19% increase over March and another indication that students and community members continue to speak up when they see safety concerns or peers in crisis.
Key findings from April 2026:
- The most frequently reported concerns were school safety (18.8%), bullying (16.9%), mental health (15.5%), and substance use (11.9%).
- Duplicate reports accounted for 10.3% of submissions, reflecting a healthy reporting culture in which multiple individuals raised the same concern.
- False reports remained historically low at 1.8%.
- During the 2025-26 school year, Safe2Tell has received 25,502 reports.
“More than 3,000 reports in April show that students and community members are continuing to speak up when they see warning signs or safety concerns,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “This month’s reports prompted mental health interventions, school investigations, disciplinary action, and collaboration with parents and caregivers, underscoring how anonymous reporting can help Colorado schools and families respond before situations escalate.”
In one April report, a student was identified as struggling with relationship issues, self-harming behaviors, and depression. Law enforcement completed a welfare check, and the school notified the student’s parents. The family is now working with the school social worker on a safety plan and has been connected with additional resources.
Another report described a student using a social media account to catfish peers into sending explicit photos. School teams investigated, spoke with those involved, and confirmed the behavior occurred. The student’s parents were notified, and disciplinary action was taken.
“Safe2Tell continues to see sustained reporting activity at historic levels,” said Safe2Tell Director Stacey Scardino. “All of Safe2Tell’s top 10 reporting months have occurred since spring 2024, and nearly half happened during this school year alone. That trend shows growing awareness of the program and increasing trust from students and communities across Colorado.”
A full breakdown of this month’s data is available in the Safe2Tell April 2026 Monthly Report (PDF). Definitions for each reporting category can be found in the Safe2Tell Report Categorization Guide (PDF).
About Safe2Tell
Safe2Tell is Colorado’s anonymous reporting system for concerns about the safety and well-being of students. Safe2Tell is not an emergency response unit or a mental health counseling provider. Instead, it serves as an information pathway for distributing anonymous reports to local law enforcement and school officials, as required by state law.
How to submit a report
Reports can be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-877-542-SAFE (7233), visiting Safe2Tell.org, texting S2TCO to 738477, or using the Safe2Tell mobile app available in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
###
Media Contact:
Mallory Boyce
Communications Specialist
720-219-1898 (cell)
Mallory.Boyce@coag.gov