A thousand ownerless backpacks lined the quad at UIS Thursday, each representing a victim of suicide.
The organization “Send Silence Packing” travels from campus to campus to promote suicide awareness and prevention. Pavani Unnam and Dhara Patel with the student group Active Minds brought the initiative to campus.
“In high school, one of my friends had depression,” Unnam said, “and she was also cutting, and it was really scary as a high schooler who didn’t know what any of this was, and she did get help because her parents listened to her, and now she’s doing much better, and it’s really nice to see the progression. So I just want people to know they’re not alone. It’s okay to seek help. It doesn’t make a person weak in any way. And I especially want men to know that . . . it’s not weak to seek help.”
On campus or off, 988 is the number to call if you’re contemplating self harm. It’s the recently activated suicide and crisis lifeline.