Send Silence Packing
Thus far I’ve mainly been talking about how to motivate mental health consumers and activists online. However, regardless of how in-tune we become with technology, some of our most moving experiences will still occur in the physical world. I was recently reminded of this when I stumbled onto a mental health campaign called ‘Send Silence Packing.’ The campaign was created by ActiveMinds.org, which endeavors to raise mental illness and suicide awareness on college campuses around the country.
The campaign consists of an exhibit of 1,100 backpacks representing the number of college student lives lost to suicide each year. On the backpacks, Active Minds features the personal stories they have collected from around the country to honor the memory of those impacted by suicide. The campaign hopes to put a ‘face’ to lives lost to suicide, and in doing so promote a dialogue about mental health issues on campus and combat the incidence of student suicide.
As a result of the individuals they have touched, Active Minds has been able to successfully create an online following that plays an integral role in generating funds and publicity for their continued city tours. The Send Silence Packing blog shares experiences from the road, pictures and inspiring stories of hope from around the country.
Through the blog, the organization is also able to address the many misconceptions about mental illness, suicide and recovery they encounter throughout their travels. In this way, a campaign that started by impacting one person at a time offline can now reach millions with genuine messages they can personally relate to. Individuals that are moved by the campaign can also sponsor a backpack online in memory or a loved one, allowing them to add to the impact of the program.
This is a great example of how organizations can build powerful networks and momentum around a cause. You can learn more about their campaign and ongoing efforts at ActiveMinds.org or by following them @Active_Minds. They provide a number of resources for young people, as well as share personal stories from mental health consumers and advocates around the country.