NEWTOWN, Conn. – Next week, students nationwide will be participating in Say Something Week (March 23-27), a national call-to-action week that highlights the impact students have in driving change – creating safer and more connected school environments where everyone looks out for one another.
Throughout the week, a variety of student-led activities reinforce awareness of the warning signs of violence, suicide, and self-harm, as well as how to be an Upstander and say something when things feel off. The week also celebrates relationships between youth and Trusted Adults as they work together to transform schools into safer and more supportive spaces.
By educating and enabling young people to have a direct role in school safety, tragedies like school shootings and youth suicides are being prevented, and young lives are being saved.
Nationally, more than 1.4 million students from more than 2,270 schools are registered to participate in Say Something Week, reaching nearly every state.
Say Something Week is part of the Say Something program curriculum from Sandy Hook Promise, and it’s available at no cost to schools and youth organizations. Since its founding, Sandy Hook Promise has prevented at least 19 credible planned school attacks, as well as countless other acts of violence and suicide, by educating and empowering youth and adults to recognize warning signs and get help.
“It only takes one person – one Upstander – speaking up about seeing concerning behavior to stop a tragedy and protect peers from harm. That’s why education on warning signs is such an important part of our mission. Sometimes these signals can be subtle or easily dismissed. But when you know what to look for, and take it seriously, you can get help and save a life,” said Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.
“Since our founding, we’ve helped prevent at least 19 planned school attacks because of courageous Upstanders who chose to take action and say something. In some of these events, our Crisis Center received dozens of tips. But in many, it was just one. One voice saved countless lives. And to me, one of the most special parts of Say Something Week is celebrating the Upstanders and Trusted Adults who come together to make schools safer and take an active role in shaping a better future for all,” Hockley said.
What Youth are Saying
Several members of the Sandy Hook Promise National Youth Advisory Board provided their perspectives about the ways that Say Something has reshaped their schools into safer spaces.
“Since Say Something became a part of our school community, the way students look out for each other has really changed. Before, people might notice warning signs but feel unsure about speaking up. Now, more students understand that it’s important to say something if they see someone struggling or something that doesn’t seem right. It has made our school feel safer because people know they are not alone. Students are more supportive and more willing to check on their friends when they notice someone acting differently. It also helped us realize that small actions, like telling a trusted adult, can make a big difference. Overall, Say Something has helped create a stronger and more caring community at our school,” said Jhakia, a 12th-grade student from Georgia.
“Before Say Something, a lot of the warning signs were perceived as someone just going through a rough patch or having a bad day. Now, students take it more seriously. I think we also understand that reporting is about protecting someone and possibly preventing something really serious. Overall, our school feels more aware, proactive, and most importantly, safer. Students are more likely to check in on each other, tell a trusted adult, and take responsibility for keeping everyone safe instead of ignoring the warning signs,” said Aashi, an 11th-grade student from California.
“Say Something has ramped up at my school in the past few years. The culture of reporting is better. There is less stigma around it. Students are more likely to bring things up when a problem occurs. That awareness and mindset have solved more problems in our school,” said Anna, an 11th-grade student from North Carolina.
Resources for Action
A variety of no-cost resources are available online for participating schools, including:
- A Say Something Week social media action kit that includes graphics, profile photo frames, sample messages, school challenges, and other fun daily activities.
- Lessons, activity guides, and planning guides are also available for those who register for Say Something week online.
To date, nearly 45 million youth and adults have participated in Sandy Hook Promise’s Know the Signs violence prevention programs, which includes Say Something, since the organization’s founding in 2013. For more information about gun violence prevention and school safety, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279