Send Silence Packing Exhibit held at Marquette

There are more than a thousand backpacks on Marquette's Central Mall right now.

And each backpack represents a college student who died by suicide this past year.

Marquette is one of a dozen schools selected to showcase the "Send Silence Packing" exhibit.

Many students stopped to take a closer look at the 1,100 backpacks on display.

The goal is to start the conversation and encourage students at-risk to get help.

If you look closely at each backpack many have pictures of a young person who chose to end their life last year.

And powerful words from a loved one, they left behind.

"We hope that students will walk up to this display, and that it would hit them, and make them say wow, each one of these people have a mom and dad, has a brother or sister, has friends, has family members who miss them and love them," said Markie Pasternak, Active Minds at Marquette.  

The exhibit is part of national suicide prevention month.

If you or someone you know is at-risk, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.