CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Sept. 14, 2026)–Kirkwood Community College students will place 1,100 flags near Iowa Hall on Thursday, Sept. 17, to raise awareness about suicide and its impact on college students and their loved ones. The display, organized by the student group Active Minds, will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Kirkwood’s main campus in Cedar Rapids.
Each flag represents one of the approximately 1,100 college students who die by suicide each year. Kirkwood’s Active Minds chapter has held the annual display since 2013 as part of its efforts to encourage conversations about mental health, reduce stigma and connect students with resources.
Representatives from Foundation 2, NAMI and Active Minds will also be available during the event to share information about crisis lines, counseling services, suicide prevention and other mental health resources.
According to Angie Ziesman Weiler, a staff adviser to Active Minds, the display provides a powerful visual representation of an issue that can be difficult to discuss.
“Seeing 1,100 flags together creates a powerful visual that helps put the impact of suicide among college students into perspective,” said Ziesman Weiler. “Our hope is that this display encourages people to talk openly about mental health, look out for one another and understand that resources and support are available. Even one conversation can help someone feel less alone.”
Active Minds is a national organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma among young adults. Through campus activities and outreach, student members help encourage conversations about mental health while developing leadership and communication skills and increasing their knowledge of mental health issues.
For more information about Active Minds, visit www.activeminds.org.
*****EVENT*****
What: Active Minds Flag Display
When: Thursday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Kirkwood Community College main campus, north of Iowa Hall