Our school is proud to be partnering with Active Minds, the nation’s leading nonprofit working to change the culture around mental health, to bring Send Silence Packing (activeminds.org/ssp) to UNL. Send Silence Packing is an exhibit that inspires action around suicide by sending the message that you are not alone, help is available, and we each play a critical role in changing the culture around mental health.
We invite you to explore the backpack display on March 24th from 9am-4pm at Meier Commons and to visit Behind the Backpacks (activeminds.org/backpacks), an interactive virtual experience that shares powerful audio stories and engaging, action-oriented ideas for how to change the culture around mental health in your community.
Please note the display explores themes of mental health and suicide and includes personal stories of people who have been lost to suicide. We will have mental health professionals available to speak to onsite in the event that the experience evokes distress. If you would like to avoid the display, please follow the “Alternative Route” signs on the outer edge of the display.
Our school has chosen to bring this display to raise awareness about the impact of suicide and mental health challenges on college students. This powerful traveling exhibit fosters conversations about mental health, reduces stigma, and connects students to critical resources. By sharing real stories and providing opportunities for reflection, we aim to create a supportive campus culture where no one struggles in silence.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or suicidal ideation, be sure to contact:
CAPS On-Call Counselor 24/7: (402) 472-7450, press 4
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 OR 800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: text “BRAVE” to 741-741
Help and hope are available. https://activeminds.org/programs/ssp/
More details at: https://events.unl.edu/caps/2026/03/24/198198/