Disclaimer: The following content discusses themes of suicide. Resources are listed at the bottom of this article for any person struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts.

In October 2015, Sources of Strength, a mental health promotion program, was introduced to Palo Alto High School as part of a school-wide suicide prevention initiative to address Paly’s second suicide cluster in less than a decade. This effort, led by teacher advisers and student leaders, signified a strong, community-led step in addressing mental health in our schools.

Following the  tragic loss of Paly junior Summer Mehta on the train tracks earlier this month, it is time for us to individually and collectively nurture our sources of strength once more.

We have a lot of strong organizations and individuals making a positive difference already.

For example, Track Watch, a community-based prevention effort consisting of Palo Alto parents, saw a resurgence of volunteers in March 2025 after a Paly student suicide.

“Our goal is to get more people to come and volunteer right now, and to build that awareness,” Rani Jayakumar, a Track Watch volunteer, told Verde. “It may seem like nobody cares, but the adults in the community really do care, and we’re trying to help.” We value you, Track Watchers. Thank you.

Another promising program — collaborating with the district this year for the first time — is The Jed Foundation. This national nonprofit works to protect young people’s emotional health via programs with schools and colleges. With city funds, JED works to provide postvention counseling and evaluate current city and school prevention efforts. Thank you.

Individuals like Paly junior Julia Curtis are also leading efforts for change. Following the suicide, she started a petition for active crossing guard supervision of the train tracks, which had gained 3,500 signatures as of Feb. 12. She is also advocating for the closure of the railroad crossing on Churchill Avenue with the support of Superintendent Don Austin. Thank you.

Additionally, many teachers contributed positive change by adjusting their daily routines. Some relaxed their agendas, postponed tests, extended deadlines and maintained flexibility on graded assessments.

Hunter Reardon, who teaches English and Living Skills, dedicated class time for students to write down their thoughts and emotions, and encouraged students to discuss how they felt if they were comfortable doing so. Thank you.

Photography teacher Kenna Gallagher set out tables with coloring pages and markers for students who needed a simple activity to take their mind off of other matters. Additionally, they directed their teaching assistants to put up posters around school about mental health resources. For students who might hesitate to visit the Wellness Center, this initiative offered a more accessible and less intimidating way to explore available support systems. Thank you.

Then, there were administrators who posted Schoology messages informing students of campus resources, such as the Wellness Center, where students can speak to professionals, engage in a variety of fun activities, or simply lounge if they need a quiet place to unwind. Thank you.

Beyond campus, allcove Palo Alto, a free mental health center for people ages 12 to 25, made an Instagram post reminding youth of its regular drop-in sessions, as well as specific grief support sessions. Thank you.

Another way of channeling grief came from Mehta’s family in the form of a fundraising page on the website of The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ youth. This fundraiser had raised over $430,000 as of Feb. 12, with a goal of reaching $1 million for the project’s 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention services. Thank you.

Despite all of these positive responses, we empathize with people’s frustrations. Sometimes, it can feel like no action is enough. Public health experts in suicidology remind us that there are many different factors that may lead someone to take their life.

Moving forward is only possible when we stop pointing fingers and commit to creating real change, which includes community efforts to strengthen suicide prevention and expand student support services. Thank you to all who have contributed.

And to the Mehta family, we offer our deepest heartfelt condolences.

There is still much work to be done in addressing youth mental health, but for now, our strength can be found in each other. Simple habits like checking in with peers, taking concerns seriously and paying attention to shifts in behavior can help someone feel seen and supported. Small, consistent acts of care create a culture where we can feel safe speaking about our mental health. It’s time to come together, Palo Alto. It’s time to be better together.

Call 24/7 suicide and crisis hotline: 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Call The Trevor Project’s 24/7 crisis support hotline: (866) 488-7386

To volunteer for Track Watch, email [email protected] 

To donate to the Trevor Project, go to https://give.thetrevorproject.org/fundraiser/6961929

To sign the petition to close the Churchill crossing, visit https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-active-suicide-prevention-at-pausd