Colorado students turned to the Safe2Tell program more than ever last school year, filing over 31,000 anonymous reports that spotlight a growing youth mental health crisis. Suicide threats emerged as the top concern, making up 10 percent of all submissions and underscoring the urgent need for better support systems across the state.
Record Reports Signal Deeper Youth Struggles
The Safe2Tell initiative, an anonymous tipping line for students to flag safety and well-being issues, hit a milestone with 31,177 reports during the 2024-2025 school year. This marks the highest volume in the program’s two-decade history, showing how young people are increasingly willing to speak up about problems that affect them.
Experts point to this surge as a mix of good and bad news. On one hand, it reflects trust in the system, with valid reports reaching 96.6 percent of total submissions. On the other, the numbers reveal persistent pain points in student lives, especially amid rising pressures from social media, academic stress, and recent violent incidents in schools.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser noted that while students are reaching out, the trends demand action. “People need connection and support. We must do more to help our young people,” he said. This year’s data also introduced a new way of grouping reports into 10 main categories, making it easier to spot patterns in mental health, school safety, and bullying.
The quick response times add to the program’s strength. Reports get routed to schools, law enforcement, or mental health pros in just 1.7 minutes on average. Still, the overall rise ties into broader state efforts, like integrating Safe2Tell info on student IDs under recent laws to boost access to crisis lines such as 988.
Suicide Threats Dominate as Mental Health Takes Center Stage
Suicide threats led all report types, accounting for 10.09 percent of the total. This category alone highlights the mental health crisis gripping Colorado youth, where self-harm concerns and emotional distress are pushing students to seek help anonymously.
Weiser emphasized the positive side of these reports, as they often lead to timely interventions that save lives. Yet, the volume raises alarms about underlying factors, including isolation and unaddressed trauma. In recent months, similar trends continued, with mental health reports hitting 14.5 percent in October 2025 alone.
To illustrate the scope, here’s a breakdown of the top report categories from the 2024-2025 school year:
| Category | Percentage | Approximate Number of Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Suicide Threats | 10.09% | 3,147 |
| Bullying | 10.03% | 3,128 |
| Drug-Related | 6.7% | 2,089 |
| Welfare Concerns | 5.5% | 1,715 |
| Threat-Related | 4.3% | 1,341 |
This table shows how closely suicide threats and bullying compete, both fueling the mental health narrative. False reports stayed low at 2.2 percent, proving the system’s reliability.
Bullying and Broader Safety Issues Persist
Bullying came in a close second at 10.03 percent, often overlapping with mental health worries. Students reported harassment that leads to emotional harm, sometimes escalating to more serious threats. Drug-related issues ranked third, with 6.7 percent of reports touching on substance use among peers.
These patterns connect to everyday school life, where violent threats and welfare checks add layers of stress. For instance, the influx of school safety reports reached 17.3 percent in the latest monthly data. Weiser linked this to recent events, stressing the need to prevent both suicides and attacks.
Parents and educators play key roles here. Simple steps like fostering open talks can reduce bullying’s impact. The data also shows progress in areas like lower false reports, but experts call for more funding to expand counseling in schools.
Student Ambassadors Foster Trust and Action
To build stronger connections, Safe2Tell launched a student ambassador program that unites kids from regions like the Western Slope, Denver, and Eastern Plains. These young leaders spread awareness and encourage peers to report concerns without fear.
Weiser praised the initiative for creating trust through peer-to-peer messaging. “When we focus on youth mental health and school safety, involving young people in the work makes a real difference,” he said. Ambassadors help normalize asking for help, turning the program into more than just a hotline.
Applications for ambassadors open each August, inviting students to join efforts that promote kindness and vigilance. This approach aligns with state pushes for community involvement, including ties to youth mental health funds that have distributed millions since 2021.
One ambassador shared how the role empowered them to support friends facing bullying. Programs like this not only boost reporting but also teach empathy, addressing root causes of the crisis.
Responding to Recent Tragedies and Future Steps
The Evergreen High School shooting in September 2025, where a student injured two others in a brief but terrifying attack, amplified calls for better prevention. Weiser referenced a town hall shortly after the incident, where communities discussed gun violence threats and mental health links.
The shooter, influenced by online extremism and mass shooting fixations, fired about 20 rounds before fleeing. Both victims recovered, with one crediting quick actions by peers. This event, coming amid rising reports, underscores Safe2Tell’s role in spotting early warning signs.
Looking ahead, the 2025-2026 school year has already seen 8,975 reports by October, on pace for another record. State leaders are expanding resources, like crisis teams for in-home support and excused absences for mental health days.
- Key ways to support youth mental health in Colorado:
- Encourage open conversations at home and school to build trust.
- Promote anonymous reporting through Safe2Tell via phone, text, app, or website.
- Advocate for more school counselors and peer programs to address bullying early.
- Connect families to free services like the 988 line for immediate help.
These steps can turn data into real change, helping students feel safer and more supported.
As Colorado grapples with these challenges, sharing your thoughts in the comments below can spark more dialogue. If this story resonates, pass it along to friends and family to raise awareness together.
