Safe2Say keeps kids safe

Tipline revealed information that demands action

Six months after the debut of the statewide tipline known as Safe2Say — an anonymous way for school- aged youths to report worries about themselves and others — the anecdotal information shows students’ main concerns were about a range of emotional and mental health issues as opposed to school threats of violence.

Initially conceived as a way for students to report concerns about onsite violence at schools, a different and equally concerning issue emerged. Almost half of the students calling were reporting about bullying, cutting themselves, suicidal thoughts or anxiety. Only about 5% of the 23,000 tips concerned threats against the school or students.

This valuable tipline has revealed information that demands action.

Specifically, the number of school counselors should be boosted throughout the commonwealth. The student- to- counselor ratio at the average Pennsylvania school falls short of industry- recommended standards, according to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union using data from 2016. Also the training for teachers on how to prevent suicide should be enhanced. Currently, Pennsylvania law requires schools to provide staff with four hours of training over five years. Inadequate. The suicide rate in Pennsylvania has increased over the last few years and is above the average rate of the U. S. as pointed out by America’s health rankings.

Two- thirds of registered voters want more resources devoted to mental health services, in general, according to a new poll by Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster.

After the deadly Parkland high school shooting in Florida last year, many school districts in the state bumped up security. But keeping children safe in school isn’t just about more metal detectors and additional security officers. Safe2Say has shown us that attention must be given to students’ mental and emotion well- being. And that means more counselors and school psychologists and more training for teachers, administrators and school staff to recognize the signs of distress.