Licensed School Psychologist and Active Minds Advisor Vanessa Wehmeyer, Assistant Principal Lisa Giuliano and 14 of Mansfield High’s current Active Minds members attended the 4th annual Kyle Cares Conference at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, April 9. (Photo Courtesy Mansfield Public Schools)
MANSFIELD — “It is okay to not be okay,” said Vanessa Wehmeyer, Licensed School Psychologist and Active Minds Advisor at Mansfield High School.
Mansfield High will host the “Send Silence Packing” traveling exhibit April 28-29, helping to break the silence surrounding mental health and suicide.
For more than a decade, Active Minds’ acclaimed “Send Silence Packing” exhibit has traveled the country connecting visitors with resources for support and action. The 2026 display will be viewable at Mansfield High School on Tuesday, April 28, and Wednesday, April 29. The exhibit is appropriate for high school students and older and is open to the public from 2-3 p.m. both days.
The all-day exhibit features personal stories from suicide loss survivors. It’s designed to raise awareness about the impact of suicide, connect individuals to mental health resources, and inspire action for suicide prevention.
Attendees can walk among the “Send Silence Packing” backpacks to view the photographs and read the stories attached. Many backpacks were donated by families who lost a loved one to suicide.
Since its inaugural display on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in 2008, “Send Silence Packing” has reached over a million visitors and counting with messages of hope and help.
Active Minds recently launched a companion exhibit designed to complement the in-person program: “Send Silence Packing: Behind the Backpacks.” This virtual, immersive experience gives users an in-depth look at the impact of suicide through personal stories, stigma reduction techniques, and visual components such as videos, photos, and audio. Visitors to “Send Silence Packing” will have a chance to learn more about “Behind the Backpacks” and easily share this program with friends, family and their communities. It can be experienced both at the exhibit and at home.
“This is an event families should attend with their high school student if they are interested,” said Mansfield High School Principal Russ Booth. “We hope families leave with a deeper understanding of both the challenges of mental health and the stories of hope within the exhibit. Our goal is to spark meaningful conversation, build empathy, and help families better understand the impact on individuals and those closest to them.”
Principal Booth and Wehmeyer, who also serves as National Honor Society Co-Advisor, worked together to bring the program to Mansfield High.
“My hope is that students leave with the understanding that it is okay to not be okay, that they are not alone, and that hope and help are available if they are struggling,” Wehmeyer said. “There are many caring adults in our school community who can assist them with finding whatever help they may need. In addition, I hope they learn that each and every one of us can play a role in changing the culture around mental health.”
Click here for more information about “Send Silence Packing” and “Behind the Backpacks.”
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