Suicide claims the lives of more than 1,100 college students each year. On Tuesday, April 22, the UI will host a suicide awareness display from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Pentacrest west lawn.

The traveling display, Send Silence Packing, will feature donated backpacks in memory of the college students who have passed away due to suicide. It is designed to raise awareness about the incidence and impact of suicide, connect students to needed mental health resources, and inspire action for suicide prevention.

In the event of inclement weather, the display will be held in the Iowa Memorial Union Hubbard Commons. It is free and open to the public.

Send Silence Packing was created by Active Minds—a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the conversation about mental health. It is sponsored at the University of Iowa by the UI chapter of Active Minds, the University Counseling Service, the College of Education, the College of Public Health, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Division of Student Life and the Johnson County Crisis Center.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to attend this event, contact the University Counseling Service in advance at 319-335-7294.