Send Silence Packing Reaches Hofstra University

“Never be afraid to ask for help.” This sign appeared at the Send Silence Packing event at Hofstra University on May 3rd. 1,100 backpacks were on display representing the 1,100 college students who die by suicide each year.

Send Silence Packing is a program put on by Active Minds, Inc. and tours around college campuses in North America, Canada, and Australia. This program aims to educated young college students about mental health and suicide. Statics show that 1 in 10 students seriously consider attempting suicide. Bringing programs like this to college campuses will hopefully spread awareness and let students know that they aren’t alone in their fight. It will also show them that there are multiple ways to seek help. Send Silence Packing is all about saving lives.

  As I was walking to class last Thursday, I stopped by the quad where the backpacks were on display. Many of the backpacks had a story attached to it and described a person who lost their life to suicide. The stories were written by family members and friends. Some of the backpacks were the actually ones that the person used to own. Active Minds, Inc. continues to collect backpacks and the personally stories that go along with it. There were also a few backpacks that welcomed people to leave a message.

Hofstra University Student,  Melody Torkian

My eyes were tearing up as I walked along the cluster of backpacks to read as many stories as I could. The stories were so impacting and meaningfully to me. Some of these people seemed to be so full of life and were people that would drop what there were doing to help others around them. There were stories about fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends. This one story that still sticks with me is this boy that only tells people he has one brother because he doesn’t want to get into detail about how he lost his other brother.



There came a point in which I could not continue to read the stories because I kept thinking about my friend from high school who lost her life to suicide in October 2010. To this day, I still do not know why she took her own life. I can still picture her smiling face in homeroom. You wouldn’t have known that she was going through a rough time and contemplating suicide. I remember where I was when I got the news. I was getting lunch at Hofstra with a few of my friends and I received a text message from my friend from home. Her brother was a police officer in our town and he was one of the officers that responded to the call that day.

  A piece of literature that was handed out at the event stated, “Silence and stigma keep young people from seeking the care they need.” If you are going through a rough time and/or are struggling with depression, seek help! If you know someone that is going through a rough time and/or struggling with depression, speak up! Life is too short and too precious. And sometimes people need a reassurance that there are others out there that love and care about them and are willing to listen.