Palo Alto considers shutting down railroad crossing after series of suicides

PALO ALTO, Calif. (KGO) -- The Churchill Avenue railroad crossing in Palo Alto is once again a source of concern after a 17-year-old died by suicide there earlier this month.

Palo Alto Vice Mayor Greer Stone says the crossing has long been a known spot for people looking to harm themselves. It's a reputation Stone says the city is taking steps to change.

"We just brought on the Jed Foundation, which is one of the leading nonprofits that works to improve youth mental health and to reduce teen suicides," Stone said.

In addition to that action, Stone says the city council is also exploring other options.

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One of the city's plans would bring security guards back to the rail crossing. Another would close it down entirely.

At a council meeting Monday night, a safety advocate read a letter from the father of this month's victim.

Suicide incidents at the Churchill crossing have plagued the city of Palo Alto for years. Mental health professionals say that many of the driving forces behind them are increasingly happening in places all around the country.

Thomas Plante is a professor of psychology at Santa Clara University. He says young people are more prone to experiencing mental health challenges than at any other point in modern history.

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"They've lived a life on social media kind of from day one, political divisiveness, discrimination, climate change and school shootings. I mean, there's a gagillion things," Plante said.

But with no end in sight for the ongoing societal challenges facing everyday residents, Stone says the city must act.

"Clearly this is an epidemic that the city continues to struggle with, and we need to continue to dedicate all the resources -- especially when we're in a crisis moment like this," Stone said.

If the city did try to close the Churchill crossing, the final decision would be made by the California Public Utilities Commission.

California's Crisis Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988 or texting TALK to 741741.