DENVER — The Colorado platform used for anonymous reporting safety concerns had its highest-ever volume last school year.
Safe2Tell saw a 16% increase in report volume during the 2022-23 school year compared to the previous year, its annual report said Monday.
With 22,486 reports, this year had the highest ever report volume since the Safe2Tell program launched in 2004.
The program's most frequently reported category was suicide threats (2,840), accounting for 13% of all reports made in the 2022-2023 school year.
Safe2Tell's report said the program received 140 reports by persons concerned about their own mental health. Safe2Tell offered all who called the option to connect with Colorado Crisis Services. Report analysts transferred six, an additional 52 received counseling services, and seven resulted in holds or hospitalization.
"Increasing reports in the categories of depression, suicide, and self-harm continue to be a pressing issue, and it underscores the importance of early intervention and support for youth mental health," said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. "Safe2Tell’s focus remains on being a safe place to share concerns that result in better outcomes for our kids."
Highest numbers of Safe2Tell reports:
- Suicide threats - 2,840
- Bullying - 1,992
- School complaints - 1,858
- Drugs - 1,473
- Threats - 1,062
Safe2Tell's report said nearly half of all reports were submitted via its website on a cell phone (46%), followed by website on a desktop computer (27%), phone call (19%), and mobile app (8%).
New this year, Safe2Tell began tracking two-way dialogue within reports, a statistic that shows how often a reporting party responds to an analyst’s follow-up questions after submitting an initial report. This past school year, about one in four reports included two-way dialogue.
"Two-way dialogue tracking shows a promising development in our program, as it fosters communication and deeper understanding of reported issues, as well as potentially better resolutions," explained Safe2Tell Director Stacey Jenkins.
Safe2Tell
Safe2Tell allows students, parents and community members to anonymously report anything that is concerning or threatening. According to their website, those who use the service can help stop a friend from taking their own life, get a friend to stop using drugs or keep a bully from continuing to make other students miserable.
Tips can be made by calling 1-877-542-7233. They can also be submitted by texting S2TCO to 738477, submitted online, or via the Safe2Tell app.
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