City officials hope to help change Mountain View's higher than average suicide rate with a new policy and training for the city's 600 employees.

The City Council unanimously approved the new effort July 3. City employees who will recieve an hour and a half long training about how to identify those at risk for suicide, understand the causes and how to prevent it. The city also adopted a policy for responsible reporting of suicides.

The policy, which is part of larger efforts in the county and in local schools, was commended by Victor Ojakian, a former Palo Alto mayor who is leading suicide prevention efforts as chair of the County's Mental Health Department board.

Ojakian said Mountain View's rate of suicide was higher than average at about 7 per year. It is the sixth worst in the county.

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