Is it fortunate that the Palo Ato suicide victim was identified as Catrina Holmes?
The 13-year-old girl who became the third teenager in four months to die by apparent suicide at the same Caltrain crossing in Palo Alto has been identified as Catrina Holmes. Catrina, a resident of Palo Alto, was to have begun her freshman year at Gunn High School this week. Her death follows the suicides in May and June of two 17-year-old Gunn students at the same crossing. Caltrain officials said they are looking into whether changes are possible at the track crossing on East Meadow Drive. Mental health experts and educators said they are studying the pattern of deaths and stepping up education in the community and at school sites. Kevin Skelly, superintendent of the Palo Alto Unified School District, said Wednesday that schools are making counselors available to students. But they are also being cautious in their response to avoid glorifying suicides in the eyes of young people, he said. “A lot of conversations about it have the potential to do more harm than good,” Skelly said. “We
Latest Palo Alto teen suicide victim identified Demian Bulwa, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, August 26, 2009 (08-26) 12:58 PDT PALO ALTO — The 13-year-old girl who became the third teenager in four months to die by apparent suicide at the same Caltrain crossing in Palo Alto has been identified as Catrina Holmes. Catrina, a resident of Palo Alto, was to have begun her freshman year at Gunn High School this week. Her death follows the suicides in May and June of two 17-year-old Gunn students at the same crossing. Caltrain officials said they are looking into whether changes are possible at the track crossing on East Meadow Drive. Mental health experts and educators said they are studying the pattern of deaths and stepping up education in the community and at school sites. Kevin Skelly, superintendent of the Palo Alto Unified School District, said Wednesday that schools are making counselors available to students. But they are also being cautious in their response to avoid glorifying
