Palo Alto considers shutting down railroad crossing after series of suicides

"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."

"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."

"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."

A 17-year-old died by suicide at the Churchill Avenue railroad crossing in Palo Alto earlier this month. The crossing has long been a known location for people seeking to harm themselves. Palo Alto Vice Mayor Greer Stone said the city has brought on the Jed Foundation to improve youth mental health and reduce teen suicides. The city council is exploring returning security guards to the crossing and possibly closing it entirely. At a council meeting, a safety advocate read a letter from the victim's father. Thomas Plante, a Santa Clara University psychology professor, linked rising youth mental-health challenges to social media, political divisiveness, discrimination, climate change, and school shootings. Stone said the city must dedicate resources during this crisis.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco