Partnership with The Jed Foundation

JED team talking to a group of people

Background

At the April 1, 2025 City Schools Liaison Committee, the Committee discussed a possible partnership with The Jed Foundation (JED). The Committee approved the following: "Refer The Jed Foundation proposal and further refine the scope with stakeholders to the City Council for Council discussion and potential direction and for continued collaboration with the School District."

On September 29, 2025, City Council approved JED to provide technical assistance, evaluation, and support regarding youth and young adult mental health programs for the City over two (2) years.

Upcoming Events and Workshops

As they're scheduled, events will be listed below.

November 12 - Community Listening Session on the JED Findings Report

The Findings Report (below) was one of the first deliverables JED provided to the City. It is the result of community-wide input and a review of suicide prevention and postvention efforts in Palo Alto. The report presents JED's independent evaluation of strengths and opportunities for the whole Palo Alto community in addressing youth mental health. The strengths and areas of opportunity, which span many subject matters, transcend individual organizations and reinforce the importance of community partnerships and collaboration to strengthen support for Palo Alto's youth. In September 2026, The Jed Foundation did a presentation of the findings report to the City/Schools Liaison Committee and separately to the Human Relations Commission, watch their presentation here. 

Join in person or online to share your feedback and suggested areas for the City to prioritize from the JED findings report. This community listening session will be recorded and shared with City leadership as JED progresses with other deliverables.

Thursday, November 12
4:30 - 6 p.m.
In person: Palo Alto, City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.) | Community Meeting Room

To join the meeting, online, use this Zoom link. (Meeting ID: 892 2570 7221 | Passcode: 682322)

Publications

JED Findings Report

Staff Report and JED Findings Report

Project Phases

Please note: While we strive to meet every milestone, all future dates and phases are projected estimates subject to change as the project evolves. We are committed to transparency and will provide regular updates as we progress.

  • Phase I

    09/2025 - 04/2026

    Data Collection and Gap Analysis

    Data Analysis: 

    • Stakeholder interviews
    • Teen focus groups collection of PAUSD school data
    • Collection of local health data hotspot and lethal means analysis
    • Analysis of current postvention response
    • Analysis of current crisis management efforts
    • Analysis of local youth mental health support 

    Workshops & Support Groups:

    • You Can Help Workshop (open to the entire community)
    • You Can Help Workshop (open to youth)
    • Grief Processing Group (open to the community)
    • Teen & Young Adult Focus Groups - hybrid

  • Phase II

    04/2026 - 06/2026

    Detailed Findings Report

    Key deliverables:

    • Palo Alto community findings report
    • Workshops & training

     

  • Phase III

    07/2026 - 11/2026

    Peer Task Force, Workshops, Postvention Guide

    Peer Task Force & Deliverables:

    • Creation of Peer Task Force

    Workshops

    • Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) - Workshop for Mental Health professionals, clinicians, and first responders
    • It’s OK to Say Suicide Workshop - Open to the community
    • Community Postvention Conversation - Open to ages 18+

    Postvention Guide

    • Postvention Guide
    • Postvention Guide Study Session with City Council
    • JED presents report to City School Committee

  • Phase IV

    11/2026 - 12/2026

    Postvention Guide & Response Policy Review

    • City staff & community review postvention guide & return feedback to JED
    • City & JED finalize postvention guide
    • Roll out postvention guide with stakeholders
    • Mental health response policy review or creation

  • Phase V

    01/2027 - 03/2027

    Website Write-Up & Citywide Campaign

    • JED begins website audit & resource list curation 
    • City communications review & website updates

Project Goals

Postvention Support
Establish coordinated, trauma-informed postvention supports and safe messaging to reduce suicide contagion and strengthen community healing following loss

Strengthen Prevention Efforts
Identify gaps, risk patterns, and evidence-based interventions to improve youth mental health supports and reduce access to lethal means citywide

Facilitate Youth Engagement 
Elevate youth voice through structured engagement and data collection to inform city policies, programs, and prevention strategies

Citywide Campaign & Communications
Improve reach, clarity, and usability of mental health communications and resources to increase awareness, help-seeking, and access

Training 
Build community capacity through targeted trainings that increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and strengthen early intervention skills

The Jed Foundation

The Jed Foundation is a leading national nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. They partner with school districts, high schools, colleges, and youth-serving community-based organizations to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. JED equips teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. JED encourages community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health. 

Glossary

Suicide- The act of intentionally ending one’s own life

Suicide Attempt-A non-fatal, self-directed act with the intent to die that may or may not result in injury

Self-Injury (also known as self-harm or non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSIB)- Harm that a person inflicts upon themselves without intent to die

Postvention Guide- Provide clear, practical guidance to improve responses to suicide and other unexpected deaths and reduce the risk of suicide contagion.

Language for Discussing Suicide

Instead of saying…

Say…

Because…

“Committed suicide” or “killed him/herself”

“Died by suicide” or “lost to suicide”

“Commit” implies suicide
is a sin or crime and perpetuates shame and blame

"unsuccessful" or
"failed suicide attempt"

"Survived" or "did not die in a suicide attempt"

“Unsuccessful/failed” implies that a successful tragic outcome is an achievement

"_______ is suicidal"

“_______ is thinking about suicide" or "has experienced suicidal thoughts"

Calling someone suicidal puts a label on them, and suicidal thoughts wax and wane

Be Well     JED Mental Health Resource Center     Wellness and Belonging

Contact Us

wellnessandbelonging@paloalto.gov

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