Attachment B – JED Foundation Letter
Comprehensive Efforts to Reduce the Risk of Suicide in Palo Alto and Santa Clara County Suicide by pedestrian–train collision in Palo Alto and across Santa Clara County remains persistent and deeply traumatizing, particularly given its public nature and repeated incidents near Palo Alto High School. However, data from the Santa Clara Medical Examiner–Coroner (ages 9–24, 2018–2026) indicate that train-related deaths are not among the leading methods of suicide in this population. Trains are an urgent concern—but so are other highly lethal methods.
Accordingly, it would be most prudent for prevention efforts to be comprehensive, addressing the leading methods while also implementing targeted strategies at pedestrian rail crossings.
Reducing suicide risk across methods requires expanding access to suicide-focused, evidence- based care. Lethal means counseling (e.g., CALM, CAMS) is recommended as a standard component of care for individuals and families. At the systems level, it is important for suicide- specific interventions to be scaled across the full continuum of care—including inpatient settings, community outpatient services, and embedded school-based mental health clinics— while also incorporating universal, upstream approaches (e.g., community education, public awareness) that promote safer environments and reduce access to lethal means. Equally important is addressing the underlying and unique mental health needs of Palo Alto’s youth and young adults. Targeted resources that acknowledge and amplify youth voice, providing culturally responsive supports for subpopulations, and community-wide efforts to strengthen help-seeking and help-giving norms are also essential to sustained culture change.
Limiting access and strengthening real-time intervention at rail crossings are key strategies for preventing suicide at these locations. This includes reducing entry points through extended high- security fencing beyond the right of way, installing track-intrusion deterrents (e.g., anti-trespass panels), and deploying advanced surveillance and intrusion alert systems in coordination with Caltrain. Sustained staffing of trained security personnel at high-risk crossings is also essential, with an emphasis on empathetic, evidence-informed engagement (e.g., Be Sensitive, Be Brave).
In addition, trained community volunteers (“track watchers”) can provide a visible, supportive presence—particularly during school hours near adjacent campuses.
We understand that Palo Alto is also considering structural interventions at specific crossings, including temporary or permanent closures and grade separation. While these strategies may reduce incidents at specific sites, they are unlikely to address suicide by train across the broader peninsula, given the many accessible points along the rail corridor. Accordingly, the integration of localized infrastructure changes within a comprehensive, multi-layered prevention strategy that addresses place-based risks, underlying drivers of suicidal behavior, and increased access to effective mental health care are [highly] recommended.
Respectfully, The Jed (JED) Foundation