Rain showers early becoming more intermittent overnight. Low 51F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Rain showers early becoming more intermittent overnight. Low 51F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
On Monday, Oct. 3, students will see hundreds of backpacks spread across the West Lawn. The backpacks are part of the event Send Silence Packing that Valpo Active Minds is hosting to raise awareness of mental health issues and reduce the stigma that is often associated with them. Send Silence Packing will be the kick-off event of Wellness Week, a time to highlight the importance of caring for one’s mental well-being.
Families of those who have committed suicide will donate backpacks in honor of their loved ones. These backpacks will be spread across the lawn, and students are invited to walk through them and contemplate what their lives meant and the devastating impact mental illness can have on peoples’ lives.
Active Minds president Haley Corona hopes that this event will spark important conversations that need to be had surrounding mental health.
“I’m hoping people will kind of see the event and realize that this is like a national issue,” Corona said. “There are other resources available to people who are struggling. Suicide isn’t the answer.”
Due to Active Minds being a national organization, Send Silence Packing is an event that travels to campuses across the country with the goal of connecting visitors with resources to address mental health issues in their communities.
Active Minds will also be providing counseling services on site for students to come to with any feelings or concerns they want to bring up, and to answer questions about the services they provide on campus. The Counseling Center is located in Alumni Hall, and mental health professionals are available by appointment to be there for students and discuss with them any mental health issues they are experiencing.
Active Minds recognizes the difficulties students sometimes face in reaching out to others about their mental health.
“A lot of times suicide and mental health in general have this stigma, where people don’t want to speak up and don’t want to get the help because they feel they’ll be shamed, made fun of, or ridiculed for seeking help,” Corona said.
Corona hopes to use Active Minds as a platform for initiating conversations that break through this invisible barrier and give students the confidence to advocate for themselves.
“I think that by just talking more about it in general and bringing it into more of a conversation helps people feel more comfortable in seeking counseling and help that they need instead of feeling like they can’t talk to anybody,” Corona said.
Corona also emphasized the importance of developing a strong support system you can turn to in times of need.
“If you have a professor that you look up to, that might be someone you can turn to if you’re comfortable talking to them,” Corona said. “There are so many people on the campus in general that care, adults that care or a friend. Friends are great resources to just talk to someone, and you don’t have to keep it inside.”
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