In response to six Palo Alto teen suicides during the 2008-09 school year, the City developed a Suicide Prevention Policy, providing a framework for youth mental health services. Now, almost 15 years later, the City has decided to expand the policy to serve the broader community.
“Someone of any age could be suffering from a mental health crisis… so we just want to recognize that and be able to support everybody,” said Community Services Director Kristen O’Kane, who gave a presentation on the policy update at a City Council meeting on Jan. 21.
According to O’Kane, the 2024 Suicide Prevention Policy demonstrates a commitment from the highest level of city government to support mental health and suicide prevention efforts. Suicide has had a great impact on the local community. According to the CDC, Palo Alto had the nation’s highest suicide rate between 2003 and 2015. In addition to the 2008-2009 suicide cluster, four teenagers took their own lives between 2014 and 2015.
Not only does the policy update incorporate residents of all ages, but it places an emphasis on city staff, recognizing they are particularly vulnerable to mental health struggles. First responders, for example, experience high rates of PTSD, depression, and suicide due to occupational stress.
Palo Alto Fire Department Chief Geo Blackshire and Police Department Chief Andrew Binder expressed their support for the policy update at the City Council meeting. Both shared that they had personally been affected by suicide in their workplace.
“Four brother officers that I shared the locker room with gave their lives in the line of duty, and twice that amount… committed suicide,” said Binder.
Under the new policy, the City will provide its employees with resources on how to recognize at-risk behaviors and support those in need, including free Mental Health First Aid Training. It will also establish safety protocols at city facilities for the safe storage of firearms, medications, chemicals, and other means of self harm.
The policy also calls for the development of a list of mental health services on the city website, and a Crisis Response and Community Communication Plan to ensure responsible reporting of suicide and attempted suicide
In terms of youth, the City will continue to offer programs at The Teen Center at Mitchell Park Community Center, including Self-Care Social Club on Tuesdays. Teens will continue to ride the Palo Alto Link for free to access a “third space” – a social setting outside of school/work and the home that is thought to benefit psychological wellbeing.
The City’s Community Services department will also partner with Palo Alto University, Project Safety Net (a local nonprofit for youth suicide prevention), and other organizations to plan events and develop programs supporting adolescent mental health.
O’Kane wrote the policy herself, drawing from those more recently adopted by other cities in the county. She sought input from the City Manager’s Office, the Office of Communications, the Office of Emergency Services, and other city departments.
She also received feedback from former mayor and council member Vic Ojakian, who has been an advocate for suicide prevention since his son took his own life in 2005. Ojakian wrote the original Suicide Prevention Policy for Palo Alto in 2010. Then, he helped all 14 other cities in Santa Clara County develop their own.
“We’re probably the only region in the country that has as pervasive a reach on city suicide policy,” he said.
According to Ojakian, the policy update is important because the city has a variety of mental programs for youth and some for seniors, but very few for adults.
“That’s… where people like me come in,” he said, “to address the actual issue and not get caught up in any of these other factors, whether it’s gender or age or race and ethnicity. We’re focused on saving lives.”
Some council members and meeting attendees criticized Community Services Director O’Kane for not involving more stakeholders in the policy development.
“I was disappointed to see the staff provisions to the Suicide Prevention Policy develop… without engaging the big resource of partners who have learned to work together: residents, students, parents, survivors,” said Palo Alto resident Leif Erickson in a public comment.
Another concern expressed about the policy update was that it will divert attention from youth programs.
“I appreciate… making sure that we are watching out for all age groups. I want to make sure that we don’t forget the importance of youth mental health,” said council member Greer Stone.
The atmosphere in the City Council chambers was heavy. Almost everyone who spoke during the meeting knew someone who had taken their own life, and therefore, had a personal investment in the Suicide Prevention Policy.
O’Kane hopes the policy update will help destigmatize mental health and spread awareness.
“There’s so much happening in this community that supports mental health,” she said, “and we can always do more.”
If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
