My condolences to the friends and family of the young woman struck by the train. The Mercury News is now reporting that she died from her injuries.

These fatalities are happening mostly to PAUSD students or alumni, not to students in other school districts or parochial schoolkids.

The biggest unanswered question here is what is *SO LETHAL* at the PAUSD that is killing these kids? My guess is that it is something with the adults of the PAUSD community: parents, teachers and administrators that is mentally damaging to the students.

I think all local parents should think very carefully about allowing their children to attend PAUSD schools.

What is life like these days for young people that we are seeing so many
suicides? I am getting sick of reading these stories one after the other
and nothing happens to explain it, to enlighten us, to deal with this.

I know it is a complicated issue but some people just act like this is normal
or should be allowed to go on without notice or discussion.

As someone who lived here in my twenties many years ago, I wonder how I
would feel if I was adult age and looking around for a way to live and say
no way to get a job to pay the rents in this area. What is it like for people
who have lived here all their lives and our school system never told them of
the harsh realities of the rigged capitalist system we have today that allows
lots of rich people to buy up all the houses and apartments so they have
ways to make money, but who destroy life for anyone is not well above
average in terms of their family wealth and their university education?

I have no idea if this factored into this young ladies actions, but I have
to wonder ... we cannot all be well above average or super-lucky ... there
needs to be allowance for everyone to be able to survive. The pathetic
answers to real human problems that I normally hear in these forums
just shows the depth of the problem.

@Plane Speaker:

There is no definitive evidence at this time that this was a suicide.

That said, I will reiterate that other non-PAUSD schoolkids seem to be more mentally healthy as are kids in other Peninsula communities such as Menlo Park and Mountain View if you judge mental health by Caltrain suicide rates. The prospect for future success doesn't seem to be deciding factor. To put it bluntly, kids from Castelleja, Menlo School, St. Francis, etc. aren't offing themselves in front of trains like PAUSD kids.

I believe that there is something uniquely lethal about being a PAUSD school kid. My guess is that it has to do with the adults in their lives.

Again, condolences to this young woman's family and loved ones.

Reader, I did not reply to your post, and I don't care for the combative tone.
Sad that this seems to be the default response tone for everyone on the Internet
these days. The girl was in her twenties, so presumably she was out of public school.
Do you even know for a fact she went to the PAUSD?
I hope we do find out more about this girl, and it might help to know more about
other train victims as well. Educational level, what was going on in their lives,
socio-economic level ... but I doubt details like that will ever be made public, so
people will go ahead and continue to raise questions or draw conclusions.

One difference between Palo Alto and surrounding communities is the mix of
socio-economic levels. The very rich going to school with the regular working class,
which was not so dramatic when I attended PAUSD in the 70's. I don't think this
is a good place to grow up for kids any more, but then we do not know that she
grew up here or what?

The superintendent sent a message to PAUSD parents. This was a Gunn 2014 grad, she was 19. She was not named in the email, but has been named by the coroner, she was not Asian as many of the others were.

We are all suffering, once again. We want some answers, but we don't get them.

Suicide is a complex issue with many causes. Perhaps it would help to come together as a greater community with open hearts and minds to learn, guide and support each other. Our children would witness and benefit from this unity. Additionally, our hospitals and health providers need to offer mental health services along with physical health care. Mental health services have parity under the law. We need parity in practice.
Sending love and strength to Sarah's family, friends and anyone touched by her death.

If you are the parent or loved one of a youth or young adult who has behavioral, emotional or mental health issues, please come to Parent Chat this Tuesday at 7 pm at the Los Altos Library. Parent Chat is a free, ongoing, peer-to-peer support group hosted by the SELPA 1 CAC.

Last December, The Atlantic had as it cover story “The Silicon Valley Suicides” which focuses on Palo Alto. It's good background reading Web Link

Jeremy Lin, a current NBA player, and Paly grad during the first cluster of suicides, has an interesting response to the article. Talk about pressure, Jeremy mentioned that he felt like every homework problem was a life and death matter and could potentially spoil one's chances at getting into an elite school. Just. One. Problem. Here's his full response: Web Link

It is unbelievable that this is allowed to continue. I suspect the enormous, wholly uncalled for pressure that is placed squarely on the heads of PAUSD students. It is unacceptable that at least once a year a student or recent student dies. When will the PAUSD administration do something that will really make a difference? To start with, homework should be vastly reduced.

I know the family. They are extremely caring and well-adjusted, and have solid priorities in life.

Sarah was a sophomore in college. I hope people can respect the terrible tragedy this family is suffering and not use this as an opportunity to push agendas about parenting, Palo Alto schools, etc.

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?