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Communication Associate: Public Relations | Lori Melton | lmelton@d.umn.edu | (218) 726-8830
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April 21, 2014
Michele Hatcher | Coordinator, Swenson College of Science and Engineering | 218-726-7583 | mhatcher@d.umn.edu
Chelsea Blaylock | student | blay0021@d.umn.edu
Brenna Rothmeier | student | 952-693-3333 | rothm039@d.umn.edu
Cheryl Reitan | Associate Director, External Affairs | 218-726-8996 | creitan@d.umn.edu

Nationally Recognized Suicide Awareness Exhibit to Visit UMD

Duluth, MN – 1,100 backpacks representing the number of college students lost to suicide will be displayed on the UMD campus in the Kirby Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, April 28.

Send Silence Packing, a nationally recognized exhibit, has traveled to 70 different cities since 2008 and has proved to be a very powerful exhibit. Each of the backpacks was donated and tells the personal story of someone who lost their life to suicide. Active Minds at UMD, a student group working toward fostering open discussions about mental health, is sponsoring the event.

According to ActiveMinds.org, displaying backpacks with personal stories aims to put a ‘face’ to lives lost to suicide. It carries the message that preventing suicide is not just about improving statistics, but also saving the lives of sons, daughters, siblings, and friends across the nation.

Exhibitors from the campus and community with information about awareness and prevention of suicide will also be present.

Support for the exhibit includes Active Minds at UMD, UMD Access For All, UMD Grief Group, Active Minds at Lake Superior College, UMD Health Services, UMD Kirby Programming Board, Veterans Club at UMD Miller-Dwan Foundation, Essentia Health Amber-Wing, Human Development Center and private funding.


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