It’s amazing how a span of time can feel as though it passed slowly and quickly at the same time. The tour is officially over, and we’re left feeling a massive mix of different kinds of emotions.

In a short amount of time, we accomplished a lot, and not just the two of us, but everyone who contributed to making the first ever Send Silence Packing tour a success. We could not have done this without the amazing support of the chapters and their campuses, our national office, and everyone who came to interact with the displays.

When we started this journey neither one of us realized how much we would learn throughout this journey. We have been touched by the lives of each person we have met along the way and we feel honored to have been a part of this amazing journey. It is our sincere hope that we have been able to convey even an ounce of what we experienced here on the blog. We would like nothing more than for the success of this trip to be felt by all. It is difficult to express just how important this topic is, and how necessary it is that we talk about suicide and mental health. It is our wish that Send Silence Packing will tour again.

It’s hard to find words to match the appreciation we feel for being able to be a part of this. There are so many things that came together to make this tour happen. There are so many people to thank. Thank you for visiting and interacting with the display. Thank you to the people that contributed in some way to get us on the tour. Thank you for following our blog as we tried to share the experience with you. Thank you for your comments, your emails, your responses. Thank you to Active Minds for both giving us this amazing opportunity and creating such an amazing display. Thank you to the chapters that hosted our events. Thank you, especially, to the friends and families that shared their stories. We could go on and on with people to that, so we’ll end with this: thank you.

We appreciate everyone that shared their thoughts on send silence packing.  Ten people won gift certificates for completing the survey. We hope to keep hearing from you via the survey and blog.

We had the honor to meet each and every one the hosting chapters throughout this journey and it was our hope that we could somehow connect you to one another. We started the tour at James Madison University and we ended at Ohio State University. Because we didn’t have this whole chapter interview thing going on at our first display, we have invited JMU to wrap up this portion of the chapter interviews.

We know that so many of you have amazing and creative ideas and we want to encourage you to voice them. We hope that this inspires you to meet one another, to share and connect. Keep reaching out. Take advantage of the list serve and together with all of the passion each one of you has, you guys are going to come up with some amazing ideas to help Active Minds and your campuses.

Each and everyone of you is tied together because of an amazing cause. Thank you for letting us get to know you and for all that you do. Keep up the amazing work.

And now, James Madison University!

Liz Loveless, Senior

In response to Sean:

1. How has your work with Active Minds been received at JMU?

Our work has been received very well! Even though we are a very young chapter, we continue to grow each semester. Students are always curious about our work and eager to be involved. Overall our campus is very friendly and extremely active, so bringing active minds to campus has opened their eyes to a new opportunity and a new way to look at student involvement.

2. In a perfect world, how do you envision the mental health movement progressing in the years to come?

In a perfect world, I would want all people to understand that mental illness is on a spectrum, that all people have mental health but fall onto different places on the spectrum. Because it is a universal, we all must understand mental health in order to help others and ourselves.

3. What has been the best experience for your chapter at JMU?

The best experience has been hosting send silence packing and watching the response from students. Our campus had never experienced anything like the display, but the response was overwhelming. Students were shocked by the statistic and onterested in learning more. Many others felt is was a healing experience and time to commemorate a loved one. Overall, the display brought knowledge and understanding to the JMU campus.

Mary Anne Riley

In response to Paige:

1. How has active minds changed your outlook on mental health?

As a psychology major, I have always been interested in mental health, however being a part of Active Minds for the past year has opened up my eyes to the sad. yet realistic mental health statistics. Before joining Active Minds, I had no idea that 1,100 colleges students commit suicide each year, or that 25% of college aged women have binged and purged. However, Active Minds has more importantly taught me telling your story and raising awareness about mental health can change other people’s lives. Many people with mental illnesses believe that they are the only ones suffering and that they have no hope. Hearing someone’s story and how they dealt with their illness can inspire other people to recover or get help. Before joining Active Minds I never thought about how important the open conversation about mental health actually is for recovery.

2. What legacy would you like to leave on your chapter when you graduate?

I hope to leave a legacy of dedication and commitment to Active Minds. I feel that as an officer of Active Minds I was very passionate about the organization’s duty, and I hope that our future executives will also turn their passion towards mental illness into dedication to Active Minds.

3. Do you think Active Minds can really change the conversation about mental health? How?

Yes, I truly think that Active Minds can help change the conversation about mental health. The preconceived notions and stigmas surrounding mental illnesses can cause people to refrain from sharing their own stories. I think that Active Minds really does help reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illness simply by discussing mental health and raising awareness about the prevalence of mental health disorders that exist on college campuses. For example, that one student who was considering suicide could have walked past the send silence packing display at his or her school and realized that they weren’t alone and opt to seek help.

Vanessa Olson

In response to Neethi:

1. How do you gain membership on your campus?

I was a co-founder in Fall 2008

2. What was your favorite part about Send Silence Packing?

The impact it had on the students who did not know what was going on

3. How do you utilize the list-serv/google groups to communicate with
membership?

We use them to see you has signed up for certain responsibilities for various activities and events we hold on campus.

So many great truck swag souvenirs. We have brought them back to the office and we are so amazed, there is no way to pick just one as a “winner”. We hope to create a space in the office for the truck swag to live and remind us of our first tour and future tours to come. Thank you for everyone who participated.

We received a Fighting Bobcat from the chapter at the Montana State University.

A Goldy Gopher from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

A two-part entry from Marquette University, the top part being made entirely from items at the display.

And last but not least, some Buckeye necklaces from Ohio state! Thanks for the great swag everyone, Karen wouldn’t be nearly as well decked out if it weren’t for all of your great gifts!

As we ended the tour and pulled into DC, we got Sonya Weisburd from the national offices to pose with Karen and all of the Swag. Thanks again, everyone!

After nine events, we were feeling pretty confident about our final display. We heard nothing but great things about the Ohio State University chapter in the days leading up to the event. We were also excited to have Naomi and Kate from the national office join us at the display. All things considered, the day was on its way to be a great final event.

We pulled into the OSU campus and found two volunteers waiting on a corner to direct us to the display. As we rounded the side road, we found the full group of volunteers and a fantastic welcome sign for Karen and ourselves.

Just as we were hoping, the display went as smoothly as we could have asked. The campus was absolutely packed during the display which allowed us to reach a huge number of people with our message. It’s strange, but time seems to speed up and slow down during these things. Both the trip itself and the individual events seem to simultaneously fly by and stretch out. Before we knew it, our last display was finished.

The day flew by, but the local chapter had something special in store for us at the end. After the display, we found ourselves enjoying delicious food and engaging company at an “end of the tour” banquet. We couldn’t have asked for a warmer and more satisfying way to end our last display.

Sean O’Callahan, Senior

My name is Sean O’Callahan and I am a senior psychology major at Ohio State University. I played soccer growing up and really enjoy anything and everything having to do with sports. I joined Active Minds at OSU during my junior year a few months after our chapter was founded. After dealing with depression as a teenager, I felt the need to spread awareness concerning the prevalence of mental illness during my college years. Active Minds has been an incredibly motivating experience for me. I am privileged to work with so many talented and passionate individuals and am excited to see the organization grow in the future.

In response to Murphy:

1. What was the most challenging part of Send Silence Packing?

The most challenging part of SSP was dealing with some dissenting opinions that were voiced during the event. All of the volunteers are so passionate and knowledgeable about the cause, it was hard for us to see some individuals oppose the movement.

2. If you could speak to someone in one of the personal stories, what would you say? About the event?

If I could speak to someone in one of the personal stories, I would be curious as to if anyone reached out to him or her; if anyone began to recognize any change in behavior or mood during their struggle. I would tell them that SSP is about bringing light to the issues that students deal with that can cause suicidal thoughts. SSP lets students know that there is always somewhere to turn, no matter what they are going through.

3. How do you promote mental health in everyday life?

I try to promote mental health in everyday life by being open about my personal story and encouraging others to do the same.

Sean’s questions for James Madison University:

1. How has your work with Active Minds been received at JMU?

2. In a perfect world, how do you envision the mental health movement progressing in the years to come?

3. What has been the best experience for your chapter at JMU?

Paige Van Wormer, Sophomore

I’m Paige Van Wormer, a sophomore and fashion and retail major with a Spanish minor at the Ohio State University! I got involved with Active Minds because its goal is something I am very passionate about. In high school my ex-boyfriend would often say that I am crazy for seeing a counselor and ever since I have hid going to counseling. At one point I even stopped going to the counseling services because of how ashamed I was; why couldn’t I deal with my own problems? Active Minds has made me feel comfortable in my skin again!

In response to Molly:

1. What was the most impactful moment about today?

Today a woman started tearing up when I explained what the 1,100 backpacks stood for. Her brother committed suicide a year before. It really brought everything together for me.

2. What quote, mantra, philosophy, etc. do you seek to live out?

Uh, I have always critiqued myself so harshly on everything I do: sports, school, image. Everyday I try to gain a little more self-confidence and maybe help other young girls learn from my mistakes.

3. Has this even changed you? How do you plan to act?

Send Silence Packing made me realize how important it is to break the stigma around mental health, and ultimately will make me that much more motivated in future Active Minds events.

Paige’s questions for James Madison University:

1. How has active minds changed your outlook on mental health?

2. What legacy would you like to leave on your chapter when you graduate?

3. Do you think Active Minds can really change the conversation about mental health? How?

Neethi Johnson, President

Hi, I’m Neethi Johnson and I’m the president at Active Minds OSU. I’m majoring in biology and entomology and I’ve always been interested in pursuing psychiatry and felt like a student-led voice on campus dealing with mental health was lacking on my campus.

In response to Danielle:

1. How long has your chapter been around and how have you developed it?

Our chapter has been around for 1.5 years now and we feel like we’ve come a long way in a short amount of time. We’ve worked to gain a presence on campus and put on major campus-wide events.

2. How have you seen Active Minds impacting your campus?

Active Minds OSU has impacted the campus through collaborative events and programming with major OSU departments and organizations.

3. What programs work best/reach out to students most effectively?

The programs we have seen work best are outreach programs where we go to the students, on our main oval.

Neethi’s questions for James Madison University:

1. How do you gain membership on your campus?

2. What was your favorite part about Send Silence Packing?

3. How do you utilize the list-serv/google groups to communicate with membership?

The opportunity to disrupt the daily routine of others doesn’t present itself often. Send Silence Packing has given us the rare privilege to ask others to stop for a moment, to be curious and ask questions, and to experience something they aren’t accustomed to seeing. Thursday we saw a community connect with one another through the power of human emotion.

Everyday we go to work, we go to school, visit stores, churches, cities and businesses. We sit next to one another on trains, on buses and in cars. We take care of our families and friends, and of ourselves. Everyday, we choose what parts of ourselves we expose to one another.

Chicago was not like any other display we’ve had so far. While each display impresses us and teaches us new things, Chicago touched us on an entirely new level. It was as if every person walking through Daley Plaza that day had something in common and a story to share.

I believe that it is our capacity for being human that is truly our great equalizer. Because for a moment, it didn’t matter if you were a business person, a college student, a homeless person, a stroke victim, a secretary, a teacher, a child, a doctor, a traveler, a mother or a father— everyone stopped and shared a common bond.

One woman had come down from her office that morning surrounded by co-workers. She was in tears before she even began to read the bags. Her friends explained that just two weeks ago, her son had taken his life. Her friends gathered all of the resources they could for her, and they stood right beside her as she read each and every backpack.

At the end of the day a woman came down from her office and shared with us in our guest book:

“Today we came out to see what was happening only to learn about the things that others have gone through. After lunch we went back upstairs to learn that all the tears that were coming from a co-worker of 11 years were because she lost her best friend to suicide. It is amazing because after all the time of knowing her, she had never shared her story with us until today.”

Thursday taught me that we can be more than just co-workers and acquaintances. We can be people and we can invite those around us in and for a moment and share something real. Every person that you pass on the street has a story to share. We are all just waiting for the right time for someone else to listen.

While it was one of our most physically challenging and long days, it was also one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. It is my wish that I could somehow convey the beauty I saw in each and every person that day, but I don’t think words or pictures can really do it a justice. All I can say is thank you, Chicago. Thank you for being open and supportive and more than anything, thank you for sharing your stories.

More from our guest book:

“Your stories are profound and powerful, share them, we are all listening.”

“I am thankful everyday that I had a mom I could talk to and when I dreamed of dying, she was there to bring me through the darkness, into the light.”

“Dear John, well what can I say? There will always be anger and grief, though I am 57, you’ll always be my older brother. Why did this happen? Why?”

“My son is not respresented here. How lukcy I am that I have him to still hug. He reaches out, we were able to get him help before he could be on a list like this. But I’m always scared, he’s just starting collge this year. To others I would simply say, extreme, radical, dedicated loving time makes the difference.”

“You saved my life.”

If you attended this display, please take a moment to complete a survey, thank you.

Molly Milota, Sophomore

I’m Molly Milota, a sophomore and English major at Marquette University. I got involved in Active Minds to help raise awareness about issues that are affecting college students right now. I have dealt with depression and suicide in the past and Active Minds has provided me with a way to reach out to others in the same, or similar situation.

In response to Kayla:

1. What are your thoughts about how today has gone so far?

I think that today has been wonderful. I am so thankful to be a part of this event. There were so many people who seemed very affected by it. The sheer number of backpacks and the stories with them have proved to be a very moving, powerful passive exhibit. It is so important to our campus this year, in helping us to heal.

2. Are you involved in Active Minds, if not what student groups on campus are you involved in?

I’ve been a part of Active Minds since I arrived on Marquette’s campus. I’m also very involved with the Residence Hall Association, which has been great for getting resources and information to residents.

3. What is your major and future plans?

I am writing-intensive English major. I plan to get involved in ESL programs and possibly work toward immigration law. I know that I want to work closely with diverse groups of people and stay within the non-profit realm.

Molly’s questions for the next chapter:

1. What was the most impactful moment about today?

2. What quote, mantra, philosophy, etc. do you seek to live out?

3. Has this even changed you? How do you plan to act?

Danielle Strauss, President and Junior

Hi! My name is Danielle Strauss and I am the president of Active Minds at Marquette. I am majoring in Psychology and double-minoring in Theology and Criminology. I became involved with Active Minds after one of Marquette’s counselors suggested I look into it and learn more. After losing my boyfriend’s dad by suicide I really wanted to reach out to others and help them through times of struggle and difficulty.

In response to Will:

1. How do you attract and keep new members?

We try to really involve new members and give them ways to really feel a part of the organization and give them opportunities to feel like they are making a difference.

2. What’s the coolest event you have hosted?

Send Silence Packing! By far this was the coolest event of our Active Minds chapter, at least since I’ve been on board. We loved adding this event and reaching out to our campus community.

3. Do you have any cool digital tools (website tricks, etc.) that you use?

Being a new chapter, we really only communicate electronically via email and facebook. We did make our own email address, not using a board members, which helped us all communicate better with the club. Via facebook, we have our own group and make events and send messages to everyone we can- both facebook members and personal friends.

Danielle’s questions for the next chapter?

1. How long has your chapter been around and how have you developed it?

2. How have you seen Active Minds impacting your campus?

3. What programs work best/reach out to students most effectively?

Murphy Roscher, Junior

My name is Murphy Roscher. I am a junior Psychology major at Marquette University. I am originally from St. Paul, MN. I love watching basketball and I am an amateur stand-up comedian. I got involved in Active Minds as a sophomore when the chapter was started here on campus. I am interested in issues surrounding mental health mostly because I struggled with major depression as a junior in high school. By the time I was a senior, I was considering suicide. Luckily my family was comfortable talking about mental health and were able to get me the help I needed. When I heard about Active Minds, I knew I needed to join so that I could help make mental health issues something that is more talked about, so that others in my position will be able to get the help they need.

In response to Jon:

1. What motivates you to promote mental health?

My personal story motivates me, as well as the idea that there are people out there struggling with mental illness and they might not know, understand, or have support through these issues.

2. What was the most impactful to you about your Send Silence Packing event?

What was most impactful was seeing others react to the display. I am involved with these issues very closely, so it was great to see the impact the display had on people not well informed of these issues.

3. How do you plan to promote mental health in the future?

The best way I can think to promote mental health is to make sure I talk openly with people I encounter (especially with friends and family) about mental health. I promote mental health by the way I address it.

Murphy’s questions for the next chapter:

1. What was the most challenging part of Send Silence Packing?

2. If you could speak to someone in one of the personal stories, what would you say? About the event?

3. How do you promote mental health in everyday life?

Marquette University really impressed us with their creativity and planning. Along with our backpacks, their chapter made some great signs that were placed throughout the bags to emphasize our message of awareness as students and faculty walked to and from classes.

They also had a couple of great interactive tables set up. One was their own version of Post Secret, where students could share anonymously with others.

Another addition to the display were honor beads. Students and faculty were welcomed to take beads of different colors to share their personal connection to suicide, even if it was just to support the cause.

White: Lost a child

Red: Lost a spouse or partner

Gold: Lost a parent

Orange: Lost a sibling

Green: Personal struggle

Purple: Lost a relative or friend

Blue: Supporting suicide prevention

At the end of the day we were honored to be visited by Father Charles Rubey who organizes the LOSS program.

If you attended this display, please take a moment to complete a survey, thank you.

Jon Delperdang, Senior

Hi! My name is Jon Delperdang and I am apart of Active Minds at the University of Minnesota. I am majoring in political science and philosophy. I just got involved with Active Minds this semester, but have been apart of Mindfulness for Students for three years, which works to provide students with events to de-stress and promote mental wellness…so my passion for promoting mental health goes back three years. I recently got interested in bringing Send Silence Packing to the University of Minnesota from a social justice retreat focusing on mental health. I went with the other organizers of the event. I also get motivation from my own health story. I just recently went to psychotherapy counseling for the first time last month and have uncovered from those sessions suicidal thoughts, social anxiety and other issues stemming from negative self-talk and the large amount of pain I experienced growing up as an outside and person with acne in middle school and high school.

In response to Danielle:

1. What were your reactions to Send Silence Packing?

My reaction to SSP was both immense sadness for the deaths of students and awe to the power of seeing the backpacks and knowing it will impact everyone who comes by the display.

2. What is a piece of advice you would give another Active Minds chapter?

One piece of advice I would give to other Active Minds chapters is to partner with other campus groups. Sometimes it is hard to get people to events, but it is a lot easier if you have a lot of partnering organizers.

3. What do you want to do as a profession?

As a profession I am planning to teach meditation as a Buddhist monk and combine that with psychotherapy, both helping people get mentally healthy and then helping them maintain their health on their own.

Jon’s questions for the next group:

1. What motivates you to promote mental health?

2. What was the most impactful to you about your Send Silence Packing event?

3. How do you plan to promote mental health in the future?

Kayla Kelsey, Sophomore

I became involved in Active Minds through a social justice leadership retreat that is hosted annually by housing and residential life. This year’s theme for the retreat was mental health and planning a mental health awareness day on campus, including the send silence pacing display. Mental health awareness s important to me because it affects everyone.

In response to Katy:

1. How has today made you feel?

Today has made me feel amazing, it’s so great to see all of the support on campus!

2. What’s the most inspirational story you’ve heard today?

I haven’t had a chance to hear many stories yet, but I was extremely inspired by the spoken word performances that we had at 12:30. They were wonderful!

3. What is your major and what do you intend to do with it?

My majors are psychology and youth studies and I have no idea what I am going to do other than I want to work with youth, primarily under represented youth, maybe through after school programming and non-profits.

Kayla’s questions for the next group:

1. What are your thoughts about how today has gone so far?
2. Are you involved in Active Minds, if not what student groups on campus are you involved in?
3. What is your major and future plans?

Will Menzel, Senior

Hey! I’m Will Menzel. I’m the financial and technical officer of Active Minds at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I am a senior majoring in biochemistry with a chemistry minor. I became involved with Active Minds when I saw a sign for a student group that dealt with mental health and illness. I went to a meeting and liked that the group talked about mental health and had outreach events for the whole campus. I lost my mom to suicide three years ago and was surprised that some people I talked to were uncomfortable when they heard about how she died. I am proud to be a part of a group that “starts the conversation about mental health.”

In response to Susie:

1. How well has your campus received Send Silence Packing?

The SSP display was awesome and we had an amazing turnout! On a big campus, it’s hard to have good attendance at events- having it outside our student center was vital!

2. How and why did you get involved with Active Minds?

See above

3. What events would you suggest to a new club? (How do you get more members?)

Watching mental health documentaries is a great icebreaker at the beginning of the school year. We also have an art night where people can paint on a blank canvas what they think mental health looks like. It’s great for people who are more comfortable drawing than talking.

Will’s questions for the next group:

1. How do you attract and keep new members?
2. What’s the coolest event you have hosted?
3. Do you have any cool digital tools (website tricks, etc.) that you use?

Danielle, Senior

Hello! My name is Danielle and I’m a member of Active Minds in Bozeman, Montana. We are a fairly new chapter that started last semester. I came to Active Minds to help start mental health conversation. Mental illness was in my family and it helps to talk about it. I want to hear others and promote resources that MSU has.

In response to Maggie McWilliams:

1. What will you do to promote Send Silence Packing on a small scale on your campus?

On a smaller scale, I want to keep the idea of SSP by being open about mental illness. Suicide is too often ignored, and hopefully through this big event, people will start talking. We are doing a movie and panel discussion tomorrow that will hopefully answer more questions and keep the essence of SSP going.

2. How did students respond to the display?

Students responded mostly positively to the display. There was a lot of shock at the numbers. Many commented on how powerful it was and we all received stories, memories and thank yous.

3. What is the distance from University of Wyoming to Bozeman in miles?

I have no idea the mileage! I’m going to have to ask.

Overall, this experience was one of the most rewarding  ones I’ve ever had. Thousands of students go to hear and see our message today! How exciting! I hope you are having an amazing week!

Danielle’s questions for the next chapter:

1. What were your reactions to Send Silence Packing?

2. What is a piece of advice you would give another Active Minds chapter?

3. What do you want to do as a profession?

Susie Lenssen, Senior and President

Hi! My name is Susie Lenssen, I am the president of Active Minds at Montana State University and a senior in Industrial Engineering. I have also been a competitive figure skater for 15 years.

In response to Sean Moran:

1. What is your favorite Active Minds event?

My favorite Active Minds event is Send Silence Packing (we have only been a chapter for two semesters).

2. What do you plan to do in the future?

In the future I hope this chapter continues to grow, host events and work with other clubs.

3. Where do you wish to go after college?

After college I am moving to Seattle to hopefully find an engineering job… or work as a private figure skating coach.

Susie’s questions for the next chapter:

1. How well has your campus received Send Silence Packing?

2. How and why did you get involved with Active Minds?

3. What events would you suggest to a new club? (How do you get more members?)

Katy Thomas, Senior

I heard from a friend about Active Minds and thought it was a wonderful cause. Montana has the second highest suicide rate among young people. We must help those with depression and mental illness!

In response to Mika Moriwaki:

1. What event was most successful in your chapter?

I would definitely say that Send Silence Packing was very influential and showed the whole campus who we are.

2. How do you feel right now?

I feel touched. I am so sad after reading all of the stories on the backpacks. It amazes me what a serious issue this is and how many people are affected by it.

3. What is your favorite musician?

My current favorite musician is the group Passion Pit. I love their music and it puts me in a good mood.

Katy’s questions for the next chapter:

1. How has today made you feel?

2. What’s the most inspirational story you’ve heard today?

3. What is your major and what do you intend to do with it?