1,100 Backpacks Makes Visual Statement at U of R

REDLANDS>> A powerful exhibit that could save lives filled the Gallery Lawn at the University of Redlands from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13. The free and public event allowed students, professors and the community an opportunity to experience a visual and emotional message intended to bring awareness to the epidemic of suicide and efforts of suicide prevention. Suicide claims the lives of more than 1,100 college students each year and “Send Silence Packing” is an exhibit of 1,100 backpacks representing those lives lost. Visitors were invited to walk among the backpacks — each with photos and a story about the individual lost to suicide. The goal of the visual display was to help erase the stigma around mental health, encourage openness to discuss issues and inspire action for suicide prevention. Student club Active Minds and the Alliance for Community Transformation and Wellness are hosted the exhibit and held a free talk and Q & A session preceding the exhibit. The session titled “Suicide: A Global Epidemic” was presented by Dr. Daniel Bennett, assistant chief of psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente. "Send Silence Packing" is a nationally recognized traveling exhibition started by Active Minds, a leading nonprofit organization that empowers students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage help-seeking. "We are changing the culture on campuses and in the community by providing information, leadership opportunities and advocacy training to the next generation," the Active Minds website states. The website also states by displaying backpacks with personal stories, "Send Silence Packing" puts a "face" to lives lost to suicide and carries the message that preventing suicide is not just about improving statistics, but also about saving the lives of daughters, sons, brothers, sisters and friends across the nation. Since the inaugural display in 2008 on the National Mall in Washington, DC, "Send Silence Packing" has traveled to more than 100 cities in states across the country. Program evaluation data reveals that individuals leave the display wanting to learn more about mental health. Ninety-five percent of survey respondents rate the display as powerful or very powerful and 97 percent report that it is educational.