School district responds to Palo Alto teen's death

District, community partners organize support for students on Monday

by Elena Kadvany / Palo Alto Weekly

 

 

 

Palo Alto school officials have confirmed that a male Gunn High School senior died by suicide near his residence early Saturday morning.

 

The school's crisis response team will be meeting today and tomorrow and working with district and site staff, school board members and the district's community partners to coordinate support services for students and families at Gunn and throughout the district, Superintendent Max McGee wrote in a message sent to parents Saturday afternoon. Local mental-health organizations -- Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS), grief nonprofit Kara and Counseling Support Services for Youth (CASSY) -- will provide extra support and assistance.

 

"I know that we are all deeply saddened by this tragedy in our community and it weighs heavily on all of us," McGee wrote to parents. "Coming so closely to the deaths of other community youth in 2014, this event may make vulnerable youth especially at risk, so we want to remind you of the many resources in our community and share our plan to support our students as they return to school on Monday."

 

McGee urged parents to reach out to school principals, psychologists, counselors or district staff if they believe their child might be at risk.

 

"As we have mentioned before, please encourage your children to express their feelings to you and/or other trusted adults as well as give them space to reflect as needed," he wrote. "As a father, I know how terribly complicated it is to work through tragic life events, and your unconditional love, non-judgmental listening and supportive presence go a long way in helping children heal in the wake of such trauma. Although difficult, these conversations and time together more often than not will provide some comfort, even if it is not immediately apparent. Again, our counselors and community supports are available for you and your family as well as your sons and daughters."

 

Any person who is feeling depressed, troubled or suicidal can call 1-800-784-2433 to speak with a crisis counselor. People in Santa Clara County can also call 1-855-278-4204.

 

A list of school and community resources are also available on the school district's Health Services page and the Counseling Services page.

 

A list of local mental health resources is also available here.

所有跟帖： 

• 无条件的爱看你怎么理解，如果孩子达不到父母的期盼，就不爱他，这不该认为是孩子不能吃苦 -princessonthepea- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 08:33:03

• 好像不是欠吃苦， 而是生活已经太苦 -茶园15- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 08:53:17

• 现代社会苦日子的标准大大降低了 -ca981- ♂ (201 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 09:25:57

• 古代头悬梁的没几个， 而且大概是自愿的。 -茶园15- ♀ (21 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 09:37:18

• On the other hand, today's teens live in a somewhat stressful an -summerkid- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 08:13:00

• Stressful for what? -liveinca- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 08:15:37

• That's the question I'm asking too. It doesn't have to be like t -summerkid- ♀ (215 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 08:22:51

• Actually I'm getting some answers from the discussions here -summerkid- ♀ (285 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 08:27:15

• 攀比，父母的期望。青少年时代因为荷尔蒙的原因人会比较脆弱的。和吃苦不吃苦没啥关系。 -黄玫瑰888- ♀ (60 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 09:30:26

• 看看这你就知道了，追捧藤校。似乎只有藤值得上，其实所有名校录取的学生只是高中生里比例很少的一部分 -黄玫瑰888- ♀ (93 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 09:26:25

• 是啊。本来美国社会很多元化的，家长自己把孩子的路搞得窄窄的 -walkabout- ♀ (810 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 09:45:04

• 高中学习基础知识，参加运动队比赛，和同学朋友互动都是青少年该有的快乐。 -黄玫瑰888- ♀ (623 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 10:01:16

• 是亚裔吗？ -茶园15- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 09:08:07

• 什么时候的事情，若是昨天，那相隔时间不长啊，那学校太邪了。 -黄玫瑰888- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 09:23:18

• Senior 还有这么大的pressure呐。 -Pinkazalea- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 09:52:56

• Senior上半学期是压力最大的，因为申请大学。下学期就enjoy了，呵呵。 -黄玫瑰888- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 10:08:29

• 是不是看到有很多同学拿到EA ED, 心理上也有压力。 -monochrome- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/25/2015 postreply 11:14:54