In a sea of backpacks, psychology sophomore Tiana Barrios wrote on a square of cloth the words she could not say to her friend — “You’re amazing just the way you are.” She then hung it in the center of the room.
“Seeing all these backpacks has taught me to keep going,” Barrios said. “I just kinda wish that she saw this.”
Two years ago, Barrios’ friend committed suicide, making her one of about 1,100 college students to take their lives annually. Last Friday, Active Minds Inc., a national organization that promotes mental health on college campuses, brought 1,100 backpacks — including two donated by the families of former MSU students — to the Union as part of a national Send Silence Packing tour.
Some of the backpacks belonged to deceased students, donated by their family and friends. Attached to several of the backpacks are the stories of students from across the country who owned them. The stories, written by family and friends of the owners, include fond memories and pleas for the reader to reach out to those in their own lives.
“It’s breathtaking how many backpacks there are,” Barrios said.
Barrios knows the struggle of the backpack owners. She has been visiting the Counseling Center since last year. She said the display was comforting.
“Once I came here, I realized I wasn’t alone,” Barrios said. “Having this around me, it just really made an impact.”
MSU alumnus Collin Webster, who graduated in December 2010, has been a part of MSU’s chapter of Active Minds since its beginning. Webster, who has struggled with depression, first saw the display in Washington, D.C., and was touched by the stories.
“I finally came across a Spartan sticker. That’s when it really, really hit home that that could have been my backpack,” Webster said.
MSU’s chapter of Active Minds requested the display come to the university. Webster said he felt MSU was an important place to have the display.
“There’s a stigma,” Webster said. “I think MSU does the best with what they can. … They have a really big campus and a lot of students.”
But Barrios said she has seen an increase in the number of students getting help for mental and emotional issues at the Counseling Center.
“I think it’s more outreach,” Barrios said. “People finally aren’t ashamed to admit that they need help.”
Brandon Doman, part of the Active Minds road staff that is bringing the tour to 12 college campuses as well as two cities said he was pleased by turnout at the event — a few hundred people by the early afternoon. Doman said the event usually is held outside but was limited by the weather.
“We’re letting people know what we’re doing here and what we’re all about,” Doman said.
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