One year ago, numerous districts in Pennsylvania kicked off the Safe2Say Something program, which allows students, school staff and community members to anonymously report potentially dangerous or bullying situations in schools.

On Tuesday, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that 40,382 tips have come in from across the state. “Safe2Say Something PA empowers students, teachers and administrators to anonymously report potentially unsafe activities in schools, “ Shapiro said in a news release.

Of the tips over the past year, 6,847 were categorized as “life-safety,” meaning a life was in danger in some form or fashion.

“None of this would have been possible without the students who have trusted us and participated, the analysts in the crisis management center who work tirelessly to handle tips and keep people safe, and nearly every school in Pennsylvania that has worked with us and gotten the word out about a program that seeks to strengthen public safety,” Shapiro said.

He said many of the tips have been about mental health — and not school violence as many had originally expected.

“As I traveled across Pennsylvania to talk to students about Safe2Say, they weren't peppering me with questions on school shooting drills or metal detectors,” Shapiro said. “They were talking about fellow students who seemed depressed, came to school without lunch and chronic online bullying.”

The top five categories of tips received in the last year are:

- Bullying and cyber bullying

- Cutting and self-harm

- Suicide and suicide ideation

- Drug use, distribution and possession

- Depression and anxiety

“We need additional funding to ensure there is at least one mental health counselor in every school building in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. “We must expand mental health services in our schools.”

Pennsylvania was the first state to deploy Safe2Say Something statewide and to provide training to students and staff in all 500 public school districts, plus private, charter and parochial schools.

There is no cost to districts to participate in the program.

Students and community members can submit tips at www.Safe2Saypa.org, through the Safe2Say Something app, or over the phone at 844-Safe2Say.