At a board of trustees meeting Tuesday, California Institute of Technology President Jean-Lou Chameau recommended the formation of a mental health task force in response to two suicides on the campus in the past three months.

Caltech officials declined this newspaper's request to attend the meeting. Spokeswoman Deborah Williams-Hedges said the private college's board of trustees' meetings traditionally are closed to the public.

She released a letter from Chameau to faculty and students in which he said he would recommend to the board the establishment of a task force "charged to look across Caltech to identify ways in which we can improve the mental well-being of members of the community and more effectively address mental health issues, including suicide risk."

"One consequence of these illnesses may be that the person loses hope in finding a solution to their problems," Chameau wrote. "Suicide is not the solution. The answer is treatment for the illness that causes them to lose hope."

Last Wednesday, Long Phan, a graduate student, was found dead in his apartment. His death is still under investigation, said Lt. Cheryl MacWillie with the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

Two other Caltech, senior Jackson Wang and junior Brian Go, committed suicide by asphyxiation by helium inhalation, MacWillie said.

Chameau wrote that suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college students.

"In times of depression or any difficult period, seeking help from families, faculty, friends and counselors is a reasonable and important thing to do. I urge anyone who is concerned about his or her emotional well-being, or that of someone close to them, to talk to one of our counselors or a faculty member," Chameau wrote.