Campus exhibit raises awareness for mental health issues
The amphitheater outside of High Point University’s Cottrell Hall was lined with hundreds of backpacks on Oct. 24. It was part of a demonstration hosted by the HPU Office of Student Life and Counseling Services. The exhibit, titled “Send Silence Packing,” aimed to draw attention to issues of mental health and suicide among college students.
The organization responsible was Active Minds, a group founded by Alison Malmon, a student from the University of Pennsylvania, after her brother’s suicide. She wanted to encourage more people to speak up and help others get the support they need to prevent future deaths.
During its 15-year lifespan, Active Minds has spread to several different universities and continues to foster conversations about mental health problems and how to best help victims. One of the main objectives is to help end the stigma surrounding the topic, claiming many people who suffer from depression feel uncomfortable talking about these issues.
The “Send Silence Packing” exhibit has moved across the country to approximately 200 different colleges and is estimated to have been seen by nearly one million people. Bags were scattered across the amphitheater, many of which once belonged to victims of suicide and were donated by their families.
“We want to show how prevalent suicide is among college students, but also how preventable it is,” explained Courtney Burke, a tour coordinator who works for Active Minds to bring the exhibit to different universities. “This exhibit sparks meaningful conversation about the mental health issues faced by students.”
The backpacks are accompanied by posters encouraging people to call or text the suicide prevention lifeline and seek out counseling. Furthermore, several of the backpacks had the stories of the owner and their struggles with mental health.
Mental health is a genuine concern for many HPU students. According to Tiffany Longjohn, HPU’s prevention specialist and clinical counselor, the two most prominent issues in the counseling office are depression and anxiety. Many students have mental health issues that need to be addressed, and there is a wealth of resources available to them.
“We have our counselor office center in the Slane Student Center, and we offer psychiatric resources including medication, support groups and personal counseling. We can also refer students to psychiatrists off campus,” said Longjohn.
The event organizers offered visitors information on how to access support on HPU’s campus as well as in the broader world. While people did not come in large waves, there was a small trickle of students coming in to seek information and share stories of their or their loved one’s struggles with suicide and mental health.
When asked if she had a message she wanted to express to people suffering from depression, Longjohn expressed the importance of having hope and acknowledging the help available in society. “Things can get better, and there is support in the community for you.”
The staff managing the event urge students suffering from mental health problems, or is considering suicide to call HPU’s counseling services at (336) 888-6352. Furthermore, the national suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255, and the crisis text line can be reached by texting BRAVE to 741-741.
The walkeway to the ampitheter lined with backpacks. Photo by Nicholas Bainbridge