‘Send Silence Packing’ Gives A Voice to the Voiceless

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With the stress of a high GPA, maintaining a social life, and even being away from home, mental illness comes with a modern-day college student’s life.

When the word mental illness is brought up in conversion, it’s important to remember that it’s not just depression. Depression, anxiety, and manic depression are all things that contribute to the over 1000 suicide victims among college students .

According to BestColleges.com, 25 percent of students have a diagnosable illness, In that 25 percent, 40 percent do not seek help, 80 percent feel overwhelmed and 50% have been so anxious they struggle in school.

To raise awareness for this issue,  SUNY Oswego’s Active Minds club held the Send Silence Packing Event. For the event, approximately 1100 backpacks were left along the walls of the Marano Campus Center, each with a story of someone who took their own life. It was “an esthetic exhibit” said Organizer Mimi Tohill.

It was on a somber note later on in the day when Active Minds co-president Ashley Darling revealed that SUNY Oswego fraternity TKE had donated a backpack for one of their own brothers that took his own life.

Students who are feeling any symptoms of mental illness are recommended to go to the Mary Walk Health Center for help. Some symptoms can include a decrease in work ethic or an avoidance of friends and peers. The counseling service center is opened from 8:30 am to Noon and 1pm to 4:30 Monday through Fridays.