Traveling Exhibit Aims to End the Silence that Surrounds Mental Health and Suicide
For Immediate Release 2/28/22
Denmark, SC – Denmark Technical College is partnering with Active Minds to bring Send Silence Packing, a mental health awareness and suicide prevention exhibit, to students and the greater Denmark community on March 3, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
For more than a decade, Active Minds’ acclaimed Send Silence Packing exhibit has traveled the country to end the silence that surrounds mental health and suicide and connect visitors with resources for support and action. The all-day exhibit includes personal stories from individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide and is designed to raise awareness about the impact of suicide, connect individuals to mental health resources, and inspire action for suicide prevention.
“We know from national statistics that there is a growing great need for and interest in mental health support for college students. The COVID-19 crisis just amplified the trends we had been seeing. We are excited to see how Send Silence Packing helps open the doors to deeper and more meaningful conversations surrounding mental health,” said Lamar J. White, vice president for student affairs at Denmark Tech.
Visitors are invited to walk among the Send Silence Packing backpacks to see the photographs and read the stories attached to them. Many of the backpacks were donated by families who lost a loved one to suicide. Since its inaugural display on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in 2008, Send Silence Packing has reached over a million visitors and counting with messages of hope and help.
“The Send Silence Program has traveled all across the country and the impact it has made on students is remarkable. We’re pleased to have the opportunity to bring the program to Denmark Technical College. We’ve been very proactive in increasing mental health awareness and resources on campus. With the drastic increase in suicide rates among African American males, as an HBCU we are more on guard than ever. We want students to know that they are never alone and that we are here for them. The Send Silence Packing program is an extension of those efforts and we’re excited to see the results,” said Dr. Willie L. Todd Jr., president and CEO of Denmark Technical College.
Evaluation data attests to the exhibit’s impact – most visitors leave wanting to learn more about mental health and the majority tell three or more people about the exhibit and may reach out to a friend in need or seek help for themselves as a result of experiencing it.
To address changing needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Active Minds launched a new companion exhibit designed to complement the in-person program – Send Silence Packing: Behind the Backpacks. This virtual, immersive experience gives users an in-depth look at the impact of suicide through personal stories, stigma reduction techniques, and visual components such as videos, photos, and audio. Visitors to Send Silence Packing will have a chance to learn more about Behind the Backpacks and easily share this program with friends, family, and their communities. Send Silence Packing: Beyond the Backpacks was made possible by a generous donation from the RSM US Foundation.
“I founded Active Minds as a freshman in college following the death of my brother, Brian, by suicide in order to end the stigma around mental health. Stigma is shame, shame causes silence, and silence hurts us all,” said Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds.
Send Silence Packing is a highly visible way to combat that stigma, increase openness and inspire action for suicide prevention.
“Mental health struggles and suicide have long been some of the top concerns for college students across the country but have become even more pronounced since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. At Denmark Technical College, we’re taking a proactive approach to mental health and we are excited about the opportunities the Send Silence Packing program will bring for open conversation with students that may be struggling in that area,” said Dr. A. Clifton Myles, executive vice president and chief strategy officer.
More information about Send Silence Packing or Behind the Backpacks can be found at activeminds.org/sendsilencepacking.
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