College of the Canyons students walked past backpacks on the ground Thursday, as COC faculty and students hope everyone gets the message at Send Silence Packing.

There were 1,100 backpacks arranged across the Honor Grove, each representing one of the college students who die from suicide nationwide each year.

Last year, COC had three students killed themselves and, perhaps most troubling for administrators, the students hadn’t reached out or approached any of the college’s counselors, programs or student services.

“This tells us that there are barriers preventing students from getting the help they need, and that there is something going on especially in the fall,” said Larry Schallert, assistant director for the Student Health Center at College of the Canyons. “There are many stressors and pressure for students in SCV, college stress, economic stress, relationship stress… We are really reaching out to make sure everyone knows that we are there for them.”

The college is hosting a series of events in September for Mental Health Awareness Month to bring attention to the college’s programs and services. The idea is to de-stigmatize the topic, as well, officials said, believing that will lessen those “barriers” to help.

“It’s important to raise awareness about suicide so we can break through the stigma that keeps students from reaching out,” Schallert said, “when they or their fellow students are in distress.”