Send Silence Packing brings message to Albany State University
“This exhibit has been going around for 18 years. First, it keeps the stories alive. Secondly, you will see, for whatever reason, they felt like they couldn’t reach out for help. We’re letting students know help is available.”
ALBANY – Each book bag tells a story, a story of a life lost to suicide, a struggle with mental illness or one that brings hope.
The Send Silence Packing display of book bags made its third appearance at the Albany State University campus on Wednesday, bringing those messages to students throughout the day. Each book bag was accompanied by a narrative detailing a student’s struggle or how the loss impacted others.
“Send Silence Packing is an interactive book bag display that brings awareness to provide awareness and prevention,” Simone Bradley, Albany State’s director of counseling and accessibility services, said. “There are also messages of hope of those who survived. It’s just really important to highlight the importance of taking care of your mental well-being as a student.”
Send Silence Packing is a program of Active Minds, a nonprofit formed in 2003 and dedicated to promoting mental health, especially among young adults, through peer-to-peer dialogue and interaction. Alison Malmon formed the Washington, D.C.-based Active Minds in 2003 after the death of her brother by suicide in 2000.
Albany State’s Active Minds chapter has 130 members and has been active on the campus for seven years, chapter President Zykerria Parrish said.
The group has wellness advisors in dorms and holds an annual Wellfest event in the fall. Wellfest brings medical screenings and resources to students.
“What we’re focusing on this year is education,” Parrish said.
The display was at Kennesaw State University on Tuesday, and it brings 100 book bags to campuses across the country, Send Silence Packing Program Associate Eric Rockwood said.
“This exhibit has been going around for 18 years,” he said. “First, it keeps the stories alive. Secondly, you will see, for whatever reason, they felt like they couldn’t reach out for help. We’re letting students know help is available.”
There also seems to be more of a stigma of discussing mental health in more rural areas, he said.
A feature of the Send Silence Packing display is a hope wall, where individuals can write messages. On Wednesday, Albany State sophomore Amiri Ross was posting a message to a former Albany State student who died by suicide during spring break last year.
“I have a message because a guy I used to go to high school with passed away from suicide,” Ross said. “So I said, ‘Keep God in your heart. Don’t give up.’ A lot of people I know knew him, so I feel for them.”
Freshman Jada Ragin said she thinks the display is a good thing for students.
“I think it’s really good they’re spreading awareness right now,” she said.
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