Dallas College Sends Silence Packing

Nov. 4, 2025

When Faria Khan helped establish the Active Minds chapter at Dallas College’s Brookhaven Campus, the goal was simple: to create a space where mental health can be discussed openly, without stigma or judgment. 

With 600 chapters on campuses nationwide, Active Minds is designed to support mental health promotion and education for students, including through its Send Silence Packing exhibit, which travels the country to end the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. 

Removing the Stigma 

When Faria and her fellow Active Minds students were introduced to Send Silence Packing and the possibility of bringing the exhibit to Dallas College, they were initially hesitant about taking on the sensitive topic of suicide. 

“After reflecting on our own experiences, we realized that even those of us who speak openly about mental health had internalized stigma when it came to suicide,” Faria said. “We came to understand that change only happens when we move conversations about mental health outside of private friend groups and into public spaces like our campus.” 

On Thursday, Nov. 13, students and visitors to Dallas College’s Brookhaven Campus will have a chance to experience Send Silence Packing, a moving exhibit made up of backpacks, each of which shares the stories and experiences of real people.   

“This exhibit is a reminder that mental health is not a niche issue,” Faria said. “It affects every student, faculty member and community member who walks through our campus. It encourages people to recognize warning signs in others, challenge myths and misinformation and speak up instead of staying silent.” 

Supporting a Culture of Openness  

Faria is hopeful the exhibit will help create a culture of openness and empathy throughout Dallas College. In addition to telling individual stories, the exhibit also highlights the free counseling and mental health services Dallas College provides to its students and encourages help-seeking behavior.  

“Ultimately, it is about driving the message that caring for your mental health is as important as caring for your physical health and that seeking support is a courageous step forward,” Faria said. 

Faria hopes that students who attend the exhibit will walk away with a greater understanding of how to have conversations about mental health with compassion, honesty and courage. 

“I want them to see that vulnerability is not weakness but a form of strength that connects us all. By showing up, students can help normalize help-seeking behaviors, break down stigma and carry forward the message that mental health deserves to be seen, heard and supported everywhere.”  

When and Where

Send Silence Packing 
Thursday, Nov. 13 
9 a.m.-3 p.m. 
Dallas College Brookhaven Campus – Courtyard 

If you are thinking about suicide, there is immediate help available. To speak with a crisis counselor 24/7/365, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. In case of an emergency, please call Dallas College Police at 972-860-4290 from any phone, or dial 911 on a campus phone. If you are off campus and have an emergency, dial 911. 

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