24/7 School Safety System Can Help Prevent Suicide
September 10, 2020
MADISON, Wis. – Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and Attorney General Josh Kaul is reminding schools and students that the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS) has a new resource for those in the school community that fear someone may harm themselves or others.
“Our new, free 24/7 school safety tool is available to students who are afraid a friend might hurt themselves and for students considering harming themselves. Parents, teachers, and others who are part of a school community can also use this tipline. With so many students attending school virtually and interacting with fewer trusted adults, Speak Up, Speak Out can be a critical additional resource to assist students in getting the help they need,” said Attorney General Kaul.
According to a survey of more than 1,000 principals nationwide that have a school safety tipline, 73% of principals said the tipline prevented incidents of self-harm or suicide.[1]
Students, parents, school staff, or any community members can submit a school safety concern or threat via the SUSO website, mobile phone application, or toll-free number. Resource Center staff work around-the-clock to respond to tips and to deploy a response locally by communicating directly with school administrators, law enforcement, and counselors.
Watch a video about SUSO and how it works.
SUSO Reports can be made 24/7:
Learn more about the SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT Resource Center:
- Website: https://speakup.widoj.gov/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakUpWI/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupwi/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakUpWI
If your school or school district would like to see how SUSO can be a part of your school safety plan, contact schoolsafety@doj.state.wi.us.
[1] https://www.rti.org/news/survey-reveals-increasing-availability-and-utility-school-safety-tip-lines-us-public-schools
Press release: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/247-school-safety-system-can-help-prevent-suicide
Fact sheet: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/sites/default/files/news-media/9.2.20_SUSO_FactSheet.pdf
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