“Silence is deadly,” Edwards said. “Society often believes that silence is consensus. When people don’t speak up, then the majority are driven by the minority opinion.”

More than 70 people gathered Oct. 3 at the Free Speech Rock for a “moment of action” to discuss ways to increase dialogue around mental health.

Sargenti was recently one of five recipients awarded the Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship from the Society of Health and Physical Educators America, an organization committed to promoting healthy living for children through health and physical education programs.