On Nov. 7, Send Silence Packing® is bringing their nationwide exhibit to our campus as a part of their mission to end the silence surrounding mental illness and suicide. 

In collaboration with the Counseling Center, this exhibit will take place on Tech Green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will showcase backpacks commemorating loved ones who have died due to mental illness. Some backpacks were donated by families who lost a student to suicide. The Georgia Tech community is invited to stop by, reflect, and read their stories. 

“I am thrilled that Tech Ends Suicide Together is partnering with the Active Minds national organization to host Send Silence Packing®,” said Julia Rizzo, suicide prevention and crisis response coordinator. “We hope this powerful display will continue to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, encourage conversation about mental health and reaching out for help, and increase communication about the resources available on campus and in the community. We are all at our best when we feel mentally well, and we hope that the Tech community will continue to support our students and each other in achieving and maintaining mental wellness. Counseling Center staff members will be present during the event to provide support.”

Georgia Tech students in need of mental health support can visit the Center for Assessment, Referral, and Education on the first floor of the Smithgall Student Services Building or visit care.gatech.edu for more information. Faculty and staff can receive mental health assistance and support through the EAP program by visiting https://health-and-wellbeing.gatech.edu/eap.

Send Silence Packing® is presented by Active Minds, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that supports mental health awareness and education for students. The group was founded in 2003 by Alison Malmon, a former student at the University of Pennsylvania, who lost her only sibling to suicide. She created Active Minds to help combat the stigma of mental illness and to help students in need. 

In 2008, Send Silence Packing® made its first stop on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and has reached nearly 1 million visitors in over 200 cities since then. It is one of several programs created by Active Minds, including the Active Mind Bureau and the Healthy Campus Award. The group has more than 450 campus chapters across the U.S. 

Send Silence Packing® seeks to encourage dialogue around mental health. Members of our Counseling Center, Active Minds staff, and other trained professionals will be on site during the exhibit.

To learn more about Active Minds and the Send Silence Packing® initiative, visit www.activeminds.org/sendsilencepacking. For all other questions about the exhibit, contact the Counseling Center at 404-894-2575.