State says ‘Safe2Tell’ reports increased from March to April, suicide threats most frequent call
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Attorney General's Office reports that Safe2Tell, a statewide program where students can anonymously report threats in schools, saw an increase in usage from March to April.
The number one category of reports was suicide threats.
In April, the program received 1,917 reports, a 4% increase compared to March. The AG's office says the top reports in April were:
- Suicide threats: 239
- Bullying: 174
- Drugs: 141
To date for the 2021-22 school year, Safe2Tell has received 16,726 reports.
However, in Colorado Springs, District 11 actually saw a decrease in overall tips with 44 in March and 41 in April. However, the number of suicide threats increased to 10 in April from six in March.
“May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in Colorado, we know that our young people are continuing to face unprecedented challenges,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser in a statement. “That is why speaking up about safety concerns is vital. Anyone can submit an urgent safety concern report to Safe2Tell, or if you are in need of counseling services, call Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-8255 or go to imattercolorado.org.”
The AG's office provided examples of anonymous reports from students and other individuals who successfully helped protect students' safety in April:
- A student reported another student threatening the school. Local teams found that the student was carrying an illegal weapon. The student was charged with possessing an illegal weapon and local teams are conducting a threat assessment.
- A person reported that a student was making suicide threats. Local teams conducted a welfare check and found that the student was not suicidal.
To make a report, call 1-877-542-7233 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reports also can be made at the Safe2Tell website or through the Safe2Tell mobile app which is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
