A Message from Palo Alto University President Maureen O'Connor

This year’s World Mental Health Day arrives amid a global pandemic that brings unprecedented challenges to individuals, families, and our communities. In our own California community, the fallout of COVID-19 is compounded by the devastating impact of the state’s wildfires. People see injustice and inequity and fear for their health and safety, their children's education, their economic well-being, their homes and their future.

In 2015, about a year before Lorna Chiu started graduate school, she learned about the tragic suicide cluster at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. Many of the suicides involved Asian-American teens. Lorna was distraught by the fact that this was happening to youth in the Bay Area where she grew up, and she wanted to help.

A recent study of suicide deaths in Northern California conducted by researchers at Palo Alto University, the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department, and the County of Santa Clara Office of the Medical Examiner / Coroner, could have important implications for culturally-informed suicide prevention strategies, assessment, and risk management.     The study published in the journal of Death Studies analyzed 1,145 suicide deaths by method and l

Megan Frank was attending high school in Berkeley, CA when she learned that her grandmother, who was raising her, had Alzheimer’s (AD). With limited knowledge of the disease, Megan began to research its causes and treatments and in so doing learned about other neurodegenerative diseases like frontotemporal dementia and atypical Parkinson’s disease which sparked her interest in an academic career in neuropsychology.

Palo Alto University is pleased to welcome five new faculty members this fall. Each brings unique perspectives and research areas to the Counseling and Psychology Departments, as well as a strong commitment to student-centered education.   Alayna Park

Dear Students:

Welcome to (and back to for most of you) the 2020-21 academic year at PAU.  In times like no other in modern history, we are so grateful that you have continued your education as part of the PAU community.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has named Ricardo F.

As COVID-19 takes its toll on the mental health of seniors living in isolation in retirement communities, a team of Palo Alto University psychology students are providing essential mental health services to older adults residing in independent living facilities in Daly City, Portola Valley, and Palo Alto. In doing so, the team of budding psychologists have learned to sharpen their digital mental health skills and gain valuable clinical experience while overcoming the language barriers and technology challenges of communicating with the residents.

A new suicide prevention training program developed by a team from Palo Alto University and the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department aims to better prevent suicide by being more culturally aware of the populations it serves.     “Be Sensitive, Be Brave” includes a set of workshops offered by a team of community trainers.

Palo Alto University (PAU) faculty members, students and alumni were invited to present posters at this year's 128th annual American Psychology Association (APA) Virtual Convention in August. Here is a selection of posters from the Convention.