Statement from Greg Boardman, vice provost for student affairs, on the death of May Zhou

The Stanford community continues to cope with the loss of graduate student May Zhou. Our main concern lies with her family and friends, as well as with our students, staff and faculty. We are encouraging members of the community, particularly students, to take advantage of the broad network of professional and peer resources available to them.

Stanford has a well-established history of providing a network of support services that encompasses Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), The Bridge Peer Counseling Center, undergraduate and graduate residence staff, the Office for Religious Life, the Dean of Students Office, and the Graduate Life Office. To meet the needs of a diverse student body, Stanford provides these and many other points of contact for students seeking help.

As part of our longstanding and continuing commitment to the health and emotional well-being of students, the university convened the Mental Health and Well Being Task Force last fall in response to the increasing prevalence and complexity of student mental health issues nationally and at Stanford. The goals of the task force include examining campus-wide policies and practices to mental health issues, gaining a more detailed understanding of the stresses facing graduate and undergraduate students, and investigating ways to provide a more supportive environment for all members of the Stanford community.

In the meantime, we are focused on maintaining a supportive environment as the campus comes together in the wake of this tragedy.

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