Dear Mr. and Mrs.

Li,

I hope you are doing well. I am sending this email because I am concerned with Grace’s mental state. I
have been visiting her more often recently and have noticed that she is displaying some very concerning
behaviors. A few of the most notable things that I have seen are:

1. She feels like a burden to both of you due to her spending a significant amount of time in
college. She says that both of you are probably ashamed of her and think that she’s a failure due
to her going back to school and feels obligated to finish her degree as quickly as possible in
order to satisfy both of your expectations.
a. Her rushing her degree is causing her significant distress. She has burned out and cannot
focus on her schoolwork anymore, and feels guilty due to this.
2. She has told me multiple times that she feels like there is no reason to stay alive, and that the
only reason she has not killed herself yet is because she feels like it’ll be too great of a financial
burden on both of you.
a. She says she will not act on these impulses yet because it will take “a minimum of 4
months to prepare everything”, which shows she has been making plans.
3. She cannot identify any goals, desires, or future. She simply states that she does not believe
there is any reason for her to keep living.
4. She does not want to seek out professional help because:
a. She does not think they will be able to convince her there is a reason to live
b. She does not have the energy to seek out professional help which are to her standards
(either a PhD or doctoral degree)
c. She believes it will be either too great of a financial burden on your family (not being
covered by insurance, etc.) or that neither of you will support her in seeking help.

I am concerned that Grace is actively suicidal and is only not acting on these impulses because she does
not want to be a burden to your family. I would very much implore that both of you talk and listen to her
about how she is doing currently and take her concerns seriously. If you could, please also assist her in
looking for psychologists/ psychiatrists who you could drive her to. She indicated that the only time she
will be willing to seek therapy is during the time after her finals (May 10 th) and before her summer
classes begin.

Thank you,

Philip Luo