In order to raise student awareness about the stigma surrounding mental health issues, Saint Louis University senior Amanda Textor founded the organization Active Minds.

At the clocktower on Friday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Active Minds will hold one of its most important events: “Send Violence Packing.”

“Send Violence Packing” is a traveling memorial that is held through the national organization of Active Minds, which recently received a $50,000 grant from Pepsi. Active Minds is using the money to dedicate a memorial to everyone affected by suicide.

This memorial will include 1,100 backpacks; each backpack represents a student who commits suicide. Active Minds’ national organization is stopping at 10 of 251 local chapters of the organization, and SLU is among those chapters. Some of the backpacks have stories written on them, but students can also add personal stories on the backpacks by making a small donation.

“Along with the display of backpacks with the stories of suicide, we will have various booths set up where we will hand out stress balls, and, most importantly, resourceful information on how to achieve good mental health,” Textor said.

Textor believes that knowledge and professional help can help alleviate many mental health problems that otherwise are ignored.