Michigan students reported record number of bullying, assault, self-harm incidents in 2023

LANSING — A statewide tool used to report bullying, self-harm and suicidal thoughts in Michigan schools saw record-high usage in 2023.

OK2Say, a hotline available to Michigan students year-round, is a prevention-based reporting tool students can use to report tips of potential suicides, bullying, violence, drug abuse and more.

The 2023 annual report for OK2Say shows a 31% increase in reports made over 2022, and the most ever in a single year — 9,686 — since the program launched in 2014.

“As we see increasing reports of suicide, bullying, drugs, assault, and self-harm, we must keep investing in mental support for our kids,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wrote in a release.

Bullying was the top report category for the second year in a row, with 1,769 tips. It has been in the top five every year of the program’s existence except for 2020.

Suicide threats and drugs both garnered over 1,000 tips — at 1,482 and 1,286, respectively — to rank second and third. Bullying, suicide threats and drugs were also the top three categories in 2022.

Reports of sexual assault, misconduct or exploitation were the next most common, with 815 tips. Threats toward individuals rounded out the top five, with 741 tips.

Overall, tips were submitted in 26 different categories. The 9,686 tips were tied to 7,799 separate incidents, as some events are reported by multiple users.

In 2023, OK2Say averaged 807 tips per month. However, that number increased to 973 during the school year, as tip numbers decrease significantly during summer break.

There have been just over 50,000 tips submitted to OK2Say since 2014. The most common categories have been suicide threats (8,918), bullying (8,546), drugs (4,903), other, including anxiety, stress and depression (4,359) and planned school attacks (3,722).

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A large number — 1,686 — of school attack tips made to OK2Say came in December 2021, following the fatal shooting at Oxford High School, which led to copycat threats around the state.

Reporting to OK2Say is confidential, available 24/7 and can be done in a number of ways. Those with tips can call 855-565-2729, text 652729, email ok2say@mi.gov , visit the OK2Say website or report on the OK2Say mobile app.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com .

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Michigan students reported record number of bullying, assault, self-harm incidents in 2023