I'm just floored by how close this happened to home. A student in my class this morning broke down in tears when we heard the news about the suicide. To be honest, I felt like crying myself, even though I didn't personally know the boy. I wish I had words of encouragement to give to everyone affected by this, but I don't think anything I could say would have any effect whatsoever.

Dear Palo Alto community -

In light of the fact that family and friends of this teenager are grieving the loss of their loved one at this time, please limit your comments on this thread to providing support rather than discussing issues that can be addressed more appropriately on another thread or at least after the initial shock has passed. Thank you for your consideration.

I am so incredibly sorry to hear that tragedy has struck the Gunn community once again. My condolences to the family and to all Gunn students affected. [Portion removed.]

[Post removed.]

This makes me so sad. When [portion removed] died on the tracks a couple of years ago his mother had the courage to say that he died of mental illness, just as others die of cancer. This is a disease and I hope we all can help erase the stigma. My sympathies and prayers go out to his family and friends.

I wish the family and friends of the boy much peace and comfort.

Incredibly sad

Thinking of the family and friends in grief, as many of us in the community feel upon hearing this.

We just received a letter from the Paly principal explaining that suicide is due to mental illness and depression [portion removed.] Adults should not think that suicidals are the obvious offbeat students who might commit suicide. Teenagers can be prone to impulsive behavior. This boy was likeable and had friends. Suicide is not always due to mental illness - environment can lead to suicide. Our superintendent and school board need to work on student stress.

I didn't know Cameron, but he looked happy. And my day has been filled with grief, even not knowing him.

My condolences to the family, friends, and classmates of Cameron Lee. I'm very sad for your less. I did not know Cameron, nor did I attend Gunn High School, but I'm sad to learn of his death. Peace be with you.

After hearing this sad news after picking up my Jr. at Gunn, it is clear
Cameron was loved a lot by many. Condolences to the family, close friends,
classmates, Mr. J and entire support staff at Gunn. "Love never ends." He
is remembered.

Suicide most often (90% of the time) occurs as the result of extreme mental pain termed “psych ache”. Usually the mental health condition causing this state is severe and treatable depression. This pain or depression is not always outwardly recognizable as such, especially in youth who often express depression through anger or some emotion other than sadness. It is true that youth are more impulsive as the part of the brain involved in impulse control is not fully developed. So impulsivity often plays into the suicide of a young person. Also, when in great pain or when depressed ones ability to find solutions to a feeling of hopelessness can be very limited. If anyone is ever concerned that a friend may be thinking of suicide, the best thing to do is ask them and, if they say they are, then get them to help. If in doubt call the Crisis and Suicide Hotline in Santa Clara County at 1-855-278-4204. For online support go to Reachout.com

[Post removed; please defer comments on broader issues of concern to a later time. The community should focus on grieving the loss of this child and supporting the family.]

[Post removed.]

It is a tragedy for both school and family. I cried even I don't know him. [Portion removed.] Some kids may be active and popular, but very sensitive deep insider. I think the best parents or educators can do is to be friend to our kid, gain the trust, share the up and downs.

[Post removed.]

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

my thoughts are with the Gunn community tonight

mark weiss
class of 1982

I applaud the Weekly's effort to limit comments to sympathy for the family and friends of Cameron Lee. My sympathy and prayers go out to all concerned.

On the other hand, I question why the Weekly would allow the comments on student stress, newspaper coverage, and the absurd insinuation from kludged that these comments themselves make suicide victims into "heroes" and thus encourage more suicides!

We need to encourage every person who is depressed or feeling suicidal to seek help. At the same time, we need to realize that the causes of suicide are not at all well-understood!

Please, all who post here, approach this topic with humility and sensitivity. It is caring and compassion, not blame and absurd assertions that will help abate these traffic happenings.

I meant "tragic" happenings.

My heart is breaking, not only for Cameron's parents, siblings, family, friends, teammates, and teachers, but because this seems to be a case where there were no warning signs which shakes us all out of the complacency that this kind of thing only happens to "those" people. A Gunn student posted a simple yet powerful video expressing her thoughts on what we can do to make our community more hospitable for our teenagers. I encourage you to watch it.

Web Link

Firstly my heart goes out to the family.

[Portion removed.] I think we have to look at the attitude of all the adults in this community. It is we who are to blame putting the pressure on the kids to succeed. [Portion removed.]

These suicides have become the defining events of our childrens community. While we parents carry on succeeding.

We have to look to our own culture. No amount of school counselling will change the parents attitudes.

[Portion removed.] Academic stress. Always sleep-deprived. Clearly, a change is needed in PAUSD. I'm tired of hearing community college is okay, grades of B are okay, and AP classes are unnecessary. At other schools in the nation, APs are less rigorous, grades of As aren't rare. There are ways to teach students so they learn but are not tortured. Some teachers in PAUSD get it; some don't. They all need to get it. Reform now.

Very sad! My condolences to the Lee family and friends during this very trying time.