We arrived on the beautiful campus of Oberlin College just after the rain had started for the day. As usual, we made plans for the indoor display and began to unload the bags in the Science Center, when we got news of a potential fire code violation because of the backpacks. After three inspections, and lots of fixing communication breakdowns, we were creative enough to figure out a successful set-up of the backpacks. Chapter president Patrick Doherty was worried after the building manager came to talk to us about the fire code the first time, and was afraid the display wouldn’t run as smoothly as he hoped. He was able to talk to three different people pertaining to three different sets of rules to be able to have the bags where everyone was happy. This experience just goes to show that no matter how much you plan, as Patrick had done, that surprises will find a way to force you to think creatively and work together for a common goal.

Once everything was set, our next challenge was getting people to stop and talk about the display. Throughout the day, we noticed that not many people were willing to talk to us about what was happening on campus. Most conversations that I  attempted to start caught people off guard and they seemed to steer away from where I was standing.

This got me thinking. I wanted to stop a student and ask what they thought about their student body and mental health. Why was nobody willing to discuss these important topics? Why were students making sure to avoid discussion about positive mental health?

I was able to talk to a few students and their conclusions were that because Oberlin focuses highly on academics and Oberlin students hold very high standards for themselves, they sometimes forget the importance of their mental health. I also believe that this stands true for many other universities as well. Another student told me that she was unaware of the severity of the topic and that she thinks that many other students may feel the same way. Even though the students aren’t starting conversations with us today, they are going to class or going back home thinking about what kind of an impact suicide has on people and ways to take care of themselves so they can get help before being lost to suicide.

It is important for students to be aware of the importance of mental health so they are able to take care of themselves. It is easy for people to get so absorbed with external factors of every day life, that they sometimes forget that they need to be focusing on ways to improve their mental health.

Students often forget to take care of themselves while they are making sure their grades are good, papers are done, and project deadlines are being met. During the panel discussion “Eat, Sleep, and be Merry: Perspectives on Mental Health at Oberlin,” one of the panelists made a statement that most students know what to do to maintain positive mental health, they just don’t know where to go or how to do it. Send Silence Packing is a perfect way to start a conversation with students about positive mental health and a way for students to find campus and national resources to maintain it.

“What can I do?”

We’ve been hearing this in a lot during the displays, and we’ve been hearing it in a lot of different contexts. This Friday, Nicole and I got to head into our home state for the display at Michigan State University. As we’ve grown used to, we pulled onto campus with rain all around us. We met with one of the chapter’s co-presidents, Collin Webster, to discuss the plan for the day. Collin brought us inside to meet the volunteers. Michigan State University’s Active Minds chapter is very new, but there was still a large group of non-member volunteers that showed up bright (overcast) and early to help out and ask “what can we do?”—even in the rain.

Since we were indoors for another display, we found a building manager to figure out exactly how much space we would have for the display at the indoor location.

“You may use a six foot table,” she told us. Assuming there was just a miscommunication in what we asked or what she meant, we asked again.

“Right, but how much overall space in here can we use for the display?”

“You have ONE six foot table. That’s it.”

We were all a bit nervous at this point. While we’ve certainly had plenty of experience trying to creatively work with the space available, fitting 1100 backpacks onto a 6ft surface wouldn’t work very well.

After a few minutes both sides learned that there had been a miscommunication and we learned that we would be able to use a much more realistic amount of space. By this time even more volunteers had arrived and started asking how they could help. We were able to set up the display inside a common area of the Michigan State University Union.

With the display up and running, we began hearing it over and over again from people stopping in. “What can I do?” Many people come through the display, read the stories, and then want to take some kind of action. One of the most moving experiences I have at these displays is seeing a visitor go from being unaware about these kinds of issues to pledging to be a mental health advocate within minutes.

I believe a big reason for this is that these kinds of things affect everyone. Whether it’s a student, a parent, faculty, staff, or a community member, so many people that stop in have some kind of story about how suicide has impacted their life in some way. For those that is hasn’t, mental health certainly has, as it’s something we all share.

Starting at Kent and continuing to MSU, I have been pulling visitors aside and asking for their reaction to the event, what they hope they and others will “take home” from seeing it, and if they have any stories they are comfortable sharing about how these topics have impacted their life. So far everyone that has agreed to share their reactions has shared some kind of connection they have to this issue. Keep an eye for an upcoming post where you can hear these.

So far, the chapters have had some pretty interesting and creative outlets to help people answer “what can I do?” While we always have literature and information on how to answer this question, it’s great to have something that people can do immediately to feel like they are taking a step in the right direction towards becoming a positive force in these issues. At every display we have a banner that says “Speak up. Reach out. I pledge to be a mental health advocate.”

Anyone that visits the display has the option of signing their name on this banner as a symbolic gesture acknowledging the importance of this cause and pledging to be proactive about it throughout the future. Some chapters have even more actionable activities ready for us when we arrive. At MSU the chapter had prepared a string of colorful fabric squares where anyone could write messages to those that may be struggling. People added their own thoughts to the squares and hung them up throughout the day.

We really enjoyed seeing this at the display because it allowed people to take action right then and there and start the conversation—and that’s one of our biggest goals.

We made it to East Lansing!

After the display at Kent State we drove by a restaurant called Mike’s Place where we saw the X-Wing in the front of the place !! Brandon attempted a few paparazzi shots from the truck window as we drove by. We then decided it would be best to turn around and check it out.

Turns out, Mike’s Place is TOTALLY awesome. When Brandon got his food he was amazingly surprised by the three pieces of fish on his plate, each the size of my forearm. He then received two full baskets of potato goodness in the form of tater tots and fries. We recommend Mike’s to anyone in or around Kent!

After more bonding, I thought the name Sinclar suitable for our trusty steed (aka the truck). Brandon seemed to agree and so our noble companion finally has a name. And I like it. It’s a good fit.

We’re excited to be in Michigan since this is our home state. Brandon probably not so much as myself, since he lives here. But I am super pumped because I haven’t been here since Christmas! I had family visit on Friday and Saturday and It was great to be able to spend some quality time with loved ones while I’m on the road.

Update: We got to go in the jacuzzi at our hotel in Kent, but Brandon wasn’t able to experience the refreshing goodness of the water slide. I only went down it once, but it was fantastic.

It is often difficult to express in words how important the topic of student suicide is, and how necessary it is that society begins to talk more often and more openly about suicide and in general about mental health. Part of the reason we don’t talk about suicide is because we don’t know much about it. At Active Minds we utilize student voices and work with them so that they have the tools they need to educate their communities about mental health disorders and on the available resources to them.

I thought this would be a good time to share a few statistics with you on student suicide. Hopefully these stats will paint a clearer picture how serious suicide really is.

• More than half of college students have had suicidal thoughts and 1 in 10 seriously consider attempting suicide. (Suicide Prevention and Public Health, 2005)
• For every completed suicide by a young person, it is estimated that 100 to 200 attempts are made (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, 2003).
• Half of students who have suicidal thoughts never seek counseling or treatment. (Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, Vol 40(3) 2009)

There are 1,100 backpacks in Send Silence Packing because 1,100 college students die by suicide each year but SO many more students are struggling and so much so that they think about ending their lives.  These are the people we need to reach out to.  And they’re all around us.  One of the most common reactions to reading the stories and seeing the pictures on the backpacks is, “Oh, they’re regular people, just like me”.  And one of the most common sentiments in the backpack stories is “I had no idea they were suffering“.

We often suffer in silence.  When was the last time you really checked in with someone about how they’re doing, mentally, emotionally, physically?  And not just asked the question but waited and listened for a full response?

While not all students have a mental illness, all students have mental health. Talk to the young people in your life before it’s too late and help us change society.

Our fourth stop was Kent State University in Kent, OH. We were in the Student Recreation Center which was a fantastic venue for the display. The volunteers were great and did an awesome job pulling in people and getting passersby interested and educated about what we were doing. Everyone worked hard and did their best. The entire day went by smoothly and we surprised at how quickly 4:00 came around.

It was a great experience to have Becky there since she is the Kent State Chapter Coordinator. She was excited to be able to meet the Kent State chapter members and see what great things they have been doing.

There were many students and community members that interacted with the display and we had some great conversations with people stopping at the resource table. Since it was at the Rec Center, there were a lot of community members interested in the display. We had some great conversations with members of the community that inquired about resources and shared their personal experiences in the mental health field.

It was also great to get a chance to speak with prospective students and their parents. They were very pleased to see that Kent State was so involved in their students mental health and well being. It was a great chance to show future students that Kent has amazing and dedicated staff and students. I think it’s safe to say that we helped parents and students make their decision about attending Kent State.

You could tell that Sharon Briggs, the chapter advisor, and the Active Minds chapter members had everything planned, all of their help organized, and they were ready for the hard work of the display. Everything went smoothly and the enthusiasm of the volunteers was definitely passed onto the people checking out the display.

During our time at Kent we asked people to share their thoughts on the display. Here’s what they had to say:

We made it to Kent, OH and met up with Becky from the national office at the smallest airport I’ve ever seen/Akron-Canton Airport.

It was nice to be in Pittsburgh this past weekend. I was able to get into the city on Sunday and visit a few of my favorite spots and people while there. I got my pot of tea and soup at Beehive Coffeehouse and was able to hang out around Southside and visit a few of the local shops that I frequented while interning there.

The drive to Kent, OH was successful and it was the first time I took the wheel the entire way to our destination. I feel like the truck, who has yet to be named, and I are bonding. Any suggestions for naming our beautiful companion?

Once we got to Kent, we decided dinner was in order and walked to Salsitas Mexican Restaurant for a delicious meal and overview of our destinations to come. We’re excited to have Becky here in Kent with us. I think it is going to be great to have her with us tomorrow at the display.

The hotel we’re staying in has an official room for breakfast, a laundry chute, an arcade and a water park with a slide!! Once business is taken care of, I am going down that slide.

We’re hoping the weather will start to lighten up and keep getting warmer as we continue the tour. This is much different than what I’m used to in North Carolina!

When we woke up yesterday morning in Pittsburgh, it was already 60 degrees! The morning started off great with our first exhibit outside and lots of eager volunteers. We set up right across from the Cathedral of Learning on the William Pitt Union Lawn and started the day. The University of Pittsburgh chapter had popcorn, bracelets, a DJ, and t-shirts ready as a great way to pull people in. They also had different colored beaded necklaces that people could take. Each color represented how someone has been affected by suicide. They also had an extra color that represented “supporting the cause” which gave everyone the chance to participate.

A couple hours in, we were hearing reports of a severe storm warning with thunderstorms, 40 mph wind, and hail. We decided to move things inside before this monster came to town. While the chapter members and volunteers were moving things in, we had about 5 people ask if they could help. The charity of strangers! With these extra hands we were able to quickly move everything inside and set-up again.

Chapter members, volunteers, and unexpected helpers work to bring the bags inside before the storm

The crazy storm turned out to be some rain, for a few minutes, and then sunshine. Despite the set back of moving things inside, we had a lot of traffic inside the building. It did continue to rain on and off through the day, so it was helpful to get everything inside in time.

New Indoor Location

University of Pittsburgh Active Minds president, Jessica Stillman, was able to have her parents visit the display. It was a great opportunity for them to see what their daughter is doing on campus and to experience Send Silence Packing.

This display evoked a lot of powerful feelings from the people that visited it and that showed in our traveling journal. Many people were moved by the display and were thankful that we were on their campus educating people about the importance of mental health.

“I think this was truly wonderfully done. Now I know why my friends/teachers told me I need to stay alive to see that I’m not alone.”

“This display is giving me the courage to speak.”

You guys are beyond inspirational. It’s organizations like Active Minds and displays like SSP that literally keep me going. Hope is real. Help is real.”

It was a day full of hard work for Brandon and I, and we could not thank the volunteers enough for their help. It was amazing the kind of support that Send Silence Packing received, especially from the volunteers that are not currently part of their Active Minds chapter.

We’re hoping this rain will be done trailing our journey as we head to Kent State.

The rain seems to be following us for this tour, but it’s not stopping any of the displays from becoming the talk of the campus. This past Friday we met up with the Active Minds chapter at Penn State university. Doing the displays indoors due to weather conditions brings a new set of challenges and opportunities. Thanks to the hard work of the chapter the second display was an outstanding success.

Penn State was the 12th time I’ve set up the Send Silence Packing display, but only the second time indoors. Before the event began, Nicole and I brainstormed along with the chapter on how we could best use the space that was available. We were concerned about space at first (1100 backpacks take up quite a bit of room), but with the creative suggestions of the chapter, we began to place the bags out one by one as we let the shape of the display be created fairly organically.

What we ended up with was something that allowed visitors to take different directions on the paths as they read the stories. In the background, we were able to feature music by Sean Costello, whose backpack (which contains two CDs of his music) is currently travelling with the display.

You can learn more about Sean at seancostellofund.org.

We’d like to thank the Penn State Active Minds chapter for all of their help. When we pulled the truck up, the morning volunteers were enthusiastic and cheery despite having to help unload the truck with a cold, misty drizzle in the air. The mid-day groups all did a fantastic job spreading the word and making sure the campus was aware of the display. When we went to lunch on the far side of campus we still saw people carrying the flyers and chatting about the event. By the end of the day we were having such a successful event that we didn’t even realize it was time to pack up until 30 minutes after the scheduled end. We appreciate all of your hard work and enthusiasm.

Next stop: Pittsburgh!

Our first stop on the Send Silence Packing tour was the University of Maryland. This was my very first display, so I wasn’t sure what to expect but it went fantastic. With the help of the volunteers from the University of Maryland chapter and all of the Active Minds staff members, it was an amazing day. We were greeted with plenty of volunteers ready to help set-up which set a welcoming tone for the rest of the day.

I was able to read most, if not all, of the stories on the backpacks and talk to visitors of the display and get myself prepared for the rest of the tour. It was amazing to see how many people that were unaware of the statistics of suicide and mental health take interest in the display. The students of the University of Maryland spent a lot of time reading the stories and finding out ways they can positively impact the lives of their peers.

Jay Coutts' backpack is added to the Send Silence Packing display

The University of Maryland added a backpack to the tour in memory of Jay Coutts who was a student there, and was lost to suicide last year. His family and friends attended the display and spent time sharing their stories with the Active Minds members, news reporters and passersby. They said that talking about Jay is a good thing and it is something that helps them in their healing process. Katrina “Kara” Tagget, whose backpack was in the display, also had family present.

Janelle Montano speaks with Nupur Kanodia from the Active Minds national office

Janelle Montano, who is a member of The Heard speakers bureau on mental health education, also attended the event. She spent some time talking with people at the display and also presented a speech later that night. She spoke about the loss of her brother to suicide and her own experience with mental health issues. Through her presentations, she shares her ways of how she has learned to cope through positive outlets and ways to change the stigma against mental health through open discussion.

The University of Maryland was a wonderful way to kick-off the tour. We can’t thank their chapter enough for all of the hard work and effort that they put into the display, not to mention how excited they were that Send Silence Packing was on their campus. We are thankful for such a great display, and we are looking forward to the rest of the tour. Penn State, here we come!