For more than a decade, Active Minds’ acclaimed Send Silence Packing® exhibit has traveled the country to end the silence that surrounds mental health and suicide and connect visitors with resources for support and action.
The 2025 display will be at St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) on Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the lawn in front of Montgomery Hall.
"Want to learn more about how to help someone who is struggling? All you have to do is A.S.K.," said Jess Jolly, LCSW-C, director of counseling for SMCM. "Acknowledge them and let them know you're there for them; Support by asking what they need; and Keep in Touch by checking in consistently."
The all-day exhibit features personal stories from individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide and is designed to raise awareness about the impact of suicide, connect individuals to mental health resources and inspire action for suicide prevention. Passersby are invited to walk among the Send Silence Packing backpacks to view the photographs and read the stories attached to them. Many of the backpacks were donated by families who lost a loved one to suicide.
Since its inaugural display on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in 2008, Send Silence Packing has reached over a million visitors and counting with messages of hope and help. Evaluation data attests to the display’s impact: most visitors leave wanting to learn more about mental health and the majority tell three or more people about the display and may reach out to a friend in need or seek help for themselves as a result of experiencing it.
“I founded Active Minds as a freshman in college following the death of my brother, Brian, by suicide in order to end the stigma around mental health. Stigma is shame, shame causes silence, and silence hurts us all,” said Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds. “Send Silence Packing is a highly visible way to combat that stigma, increase openness, and inspire action for suicide prevention. Thank you, St. Mary's College of Maryland, for bringing the 2025 exhibit to your community to help continue to spread awareness and inspire action around mental health and suicide prevention efforts.”
More information about Send Silence Packing can be found at activeminds.org/ssp.
About Active Minds: Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society. For more than 20 years, we have equipped the next generation of peer mental health advocates through a variety of programs, including the Active Minds Chapter Network, A.S.K. and Send Silence Packing. Our advocacy, initiatives and campaigns foster lasting change in how youth view and discuss mental health, encouraging them to use their voices to influence broader conversations and inform mental health supports within their communities. Together, we are building a diverse movement of champions committed to improving mental health for all. To learn more about Active Minds, visit activeminds.org.
