Below, you will find all the tools needed to advertise your event, including a sample press release, talking points about Send Silence Packing®, sample social media language, and more. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Send Silence Packing® team at sendsilencepacking@activeminds.org.

• Sample Press Release
• Fact Sheet
• Images
• Promotional Flyer
• Sample Social Media Language
• Logos
• Email Outreach Templates
• Tips For Talking About Suicide
• Postvention Guide For Student-Led Responses (After A Campus Suicide)
• Example Volunteer Shift Template

SPACE

• Reserve a large outdoor space in a central part of the campus or area of the community – spacious, open, and natural high-traffic.
• In the case of inclement weather, have an indoor space reserved, as backup.
• If necessary, please send any special event or vendor paperwork to Active Minds for completion.
• Complete any necessary location specific permits for the event.

TRUCK PARKING AND UNLOADING

• Get ready to schedule a site visit with the Exhibit Team a day or two prior to your exhibit date.
• Reserve parking for the Send Silence Packing® truck during a site-visit in advance of exhibit date.
• Designate a loading and unloading zone for a 16 foot Send Silence Packing® truck.
• Reserve parking (on-site at exhibit preferred) for the Send Silence Packing® truck.
• Obtain parking permits in advance, if necessary.

VOLUNTEERS

• Recruit volunteers for the day of the event; approximately 25 volunteers is ideal over the course of the day.
• Create a volunteer shift schedule for the day. Here is an example template.
• Schedule your team of volunteers to attend a Send Silence Packing® Volunteer Training before your exhibit date.
• Ensure water and snacks are available for volunteers throughout the day.

ACCESSIBILITY

• Ensure that your event is inclusive of people with diverse abilities, including the event location and access to the stories.

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

• Schedule staff member(s) from your Counseling Center to staff the exhibit and be available in case anyone needs help immediately. A mental health professional is expected to be on-site for the entire duration of the exhibit.
• Inquire about information on additional local/campus mental health resources to exhibit and distribute at the exhibit.
• Recommended: Create sign-up sheets and flyers that promote your community’s mental health resources, groups (such as Active Minds), services, and more.

MEDIA OUTREACH AND EVENT MARKETING

• Media templates and materials are available in the Promo Tools section.
• If available, partner with local media and/or campus communications departments to assist with outreach prior to the exhibit.
• Develop a campus or community-based advertising strategy and spread the word at least two (2) weeks prior to and leading up to the event. Be sure to inform all volunteers of the backup location in case of inclement weather.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR EVENT

• You are invited to contribute a backpack to the Send Silence Packing® program, if you would like. There is no requirement to include a story with your backpack, but if you know of someone in your community who wants to share a story, they are welcome to do so. Read our guidelines to Share Your Story prior to submitting your story.
• Consider planning supplemental campus programming to occur before, during, or after Send Silence Packing®  comes to your community to further instill mental health culture change spurred by the event. We’ve provided some examples below of supplemental programming ideas.
• You have permission to use the Send Silence Packing® logo on any materials that you produce or order on your own. Please ensure that all promotional materials related to the event following the Active Minds branding guidelines. For any marketing needs, please contact our Communications Department at communications@activeminds.org.
• Encourage your community to share their stories through a personal video at Soapboxx.
• Additional referral resources can be found on our website.

Before the Event

• Host a general discussion or Chapter meeting in preparation for the event.
• Show a movie or video related to mental health.
• Share information through campus calendars, social media, flyers and advertisements, campus and local news (utilize the Promotional Tools and write a letter-to-the-editor).
• Run a backpack drive and collect stories to add to the program so that people will be able to read about the experiences of their fellow classmates and community members.
• Chalk on campus the week or night before to encourage people to stop by the exhibit.
• Utilize the Behind the Backpacks curriculum to get conversations started before the exhibit arrives in your community.

During the Event

• Partner with other organizations to create a mental health fair of local resources available. Organizations with related and relevant missions can provide information at the exhibit.
• Organize a lunchtime or afternoon event. The backpacks are a powerful backdrop to any presentation and an event helps bring more visitors to see them. Some ideas include:
  • A mid-afternoon spoken word and poetry event
  • A Wellness Walk or Run highlighting self-care resources
  • Hosting a speaker (consider an Active Minds Speaker)
  • A Fundraising Drive for a local organization, chapter, or on behalf of Active Minds 
  • Attract students to the exhibit with giveaways and free food
  • Partnering with a local shelter for therapy dogs or kittens

After the Event

• Engage with Active Minds programming
  • Colleges/Universities
  • Communities
• Consider planning programming for the day, week, or month after the Send Silence Packing® visit to continue the conversation about mental health and suicide. You can advertise the programs or events at the exhibit, since many people that attend Send Silence Packing® leave interested in learning more and staying involved. You can capitalize on the energy and momentum by planning something to follow.