about the exhibit

let’s end the silence

An award-winning traveling exhibit

Each year, Send Silence Packing visits 30-40 schools and communities. The all-day exhibit raises mental health awareness, inspires action for suicide prevention, connects viewers to mental health resources, and jump starts action. Send Silence Packing catalyzes conversations in a way that contributes to a community’s overall positive climate for mental health.

Increase help-seeking

Send Silence Packing encourages people to seek out helpful resources for themselves, friends, or loved ones.

Active Minds staff and volunteers are on hand at each stop, and are equipped to discuss the importance of knowing the signs of suicide, intervening when a friend is in distress, and getting help for themselves when needed. Trained professionals are also onsite at every display. All signs and materials encourage help seeking, many referrals are made, and thousands of mental health resources are distributed at each location.

Focus on prevention

Program evaluation data reveal that individuals leave Send Silence Packing wanting to learn more about mental health. Ninety-five percent of survey respondents rate the exhibit as powerful and 97 percent report it educational.

Our evaluations also show that the majority of visitors tell three or more people about what they have learned, and many reach out to a friend in need or seek help for themselves as a result of seeing the exhibit.

Stories and backpacks

Send Silence Packing includes personal stories from individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide. The stories are a powerful way to raise awareness. The donation of stories and backpacks also become a meaningful outlet for the grief of survivors.

All stories on display are reviewed and revised in accordance with evidence-based public health practices. We remove discussion of means, the nature of the death, and any content that glorifies negative or inappropriate coping behavior.