The student safety program OK2SAY received 11,671 tips in 2024, a 20% increase from last year and new record. The 24-7 hotline run by the state allows Michigan students to report any potentially harmful or criminal activity in their school without the worry of revealing their identity.
Program Administrator for OK2SAY Mary Gager Drew said she is glad to see students coming forward with potentially lifesaving information.
"I'm proud of kids for stepping up and breaking the code of silence and helping a friend who's struggling, and I think that's really what we want to see,” Drew said.
Bullying (2,009 tips), suicide threats (1,608 tips) and other (1,376 tips) which include incidents that involve anxiety, depression and harassment were the most common tips reported to OK2SAY last year. Tips on sexual assault, misconduct and exploitation have also been on the rise since 2021, with 1,059 tips this past year.
Superintendent of Detour Public Schools Robert Vaught said he feels the program has a positive influence on students and helped create a more open environment in his school district.
“They're coming forward with information,” Vaught said. “Instead of the old saying, snitches get stitches, people are reaching out and saying, ‘Hey, this kid needs help, you know?’ I think it's been very, very beneficial in that form and fashion.”
The program continues to break its record of tips year after year and has tripled its numbers since 2020, which reported 3,743 tips.
Drew believes the increase in tips is because the program decided to bring back presentations for students across the state.
“In 2019 we stopped doing presentations,” Drew said. “In 2021, the program was moved, meaning the outreach aspect, to the Michigan State Police Office of School Safety. We started doing presentations and as soon as we did, we started seeing those numbers increase.”
Students can talk with an OK2SAY official either by call, text, email, on their website or by the OK2SAY app. Drew said she hopes students continue to speak up about issues at school and that just one report could potentially save the life of someone in harm.
Editor's note: If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
