Principal Kim Diorio hopes regular mental health forums are implemented in the Palo Alto High School community for years to come after  seeing the impact of the mental health forums sponsored by the City of Palo Alto and the respective high schools in the past month.

“I think that the forums are a great way for our community to come together and process what is going on,” Diorio said.

Having attended multiple forums, Diorio said that the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the students participating the forums had alligned academic areas for improvement, including heavy homework loads, course allignment, and lack of sleep. The most recent forum took place at the Mitchell Park Library on March 27 and included both small group conversations as well as large group discussions led by student-selected adult facilitators. Attendee Bryn Carlson plans to participate future forums as she sees them as a positive way to link students and parents in the community.

“I think the main thing is getting greater attendance,” Carlson said. “At the forum [“In this together”] there were about 50 people, and it would be more impactful if a greater portion of the student body could attend future forums.”