The event will begin at 11 a.m. in front of Ottenheimer Library with check in at 10 a.m. with a free brunch, live music, giveaways, and inspirational speakers. Attendees will also have the opportunity to interact with therapy dogs. The campus walk will begin at 12 p.m., after the Chancellor provides a proclamation.

 鈥淭he Campus Suicide Prevention Walk is about bringing our campus community together to send a clear message that you are not alone.鈥� Dr. Aresh Assadi said, 鈥淲e want students, faculty, and the broader community to see that support is available and that their lives matter. Events like this help reduce stigma, build connection, and remind people that it鈥檚 okay to reach out for help.鈥�

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, approximately 1,100 college students die by suicide each year. In Arkansas, suicide is the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 15-24 and ranks as the 10th leading cause of death statewide.

鈥淢ental health resources are available, but it鈥檚 crucial that people feel empowered to seek help,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淲e also want to encourage students to check in on their friends, classmates, or even acquaintances who may be struggling. A simple conversation could make all the difference.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to participate. Registration is for both in-person and virtual walkers. Proceeds from the event will support the Arkansas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Please register for the Campus Walk at . 

Though this is a fundraising event, it is free to everyone. Donations are encouraged but are not necessary to enjoy the event.For more information, contact Dr. Aresh Assadi at 501-916-3185, axassadi@ualr.edu, or counselingservices@ualr.edu.

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The event will begin at 11 a.m. in front of Ottenheimer Library with a free brunch, live music, giveaways, and inspirational speakers. Attendees will also have the opportunity to interact with shelter dogs from a local rescue organization. The one-mile awareness walk will kick off at 1 p.m., after Chancellor Christina S. Drale provides a proclamation. 

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young adults, and tragically, our campus community has not been immune to its impact,” said Dr. Aresh Assadi, director of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Counseling Services. “This walk is about more than raising awareness. It鈥檚 about fostering hope, building a supportive community, and reminding those who are struggling that they are not alone.”

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, approximately 1,100 college students die by suicide each year. In Arkansas, suicide is the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 15-24 and ranks as the 10th leading cause of death statewide.

“Mental health resources are available, but it’s crucial that people feel empowered to seek help,” Assadi said. “We also want to encourage students to check in on their friends, classmates, or even acquaintances who may be struggling. A simple conversation could make all the difference.”

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to participate. Registration is for both in-person and virtual walkers. Proceeds from the event will support the Arkansas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Please register for the Campus Walk at afsp.org/ualr. Everyone is welcome, and you do not have to physically attend or donate to participate. You can still support this important cause by simply registering and showing the campus community how much we care about student mental health and suicide prevention. 

The event is sponsored by Empower Healthcare Solutions, Arkansas Collegiate Network, and MidSOUTH.

For more information, contact Dr. Aresh Assadi at 501-916-3185, axassadi@ualr.edu, or counselingservices@ualr.edu. 

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Why do so few male college students seek counseling when compared to women?

鈥淲e kept finding that men went to therapy far less than women, usually at a rate of 3 to 1,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淚 wondered if this was a coincidence or something that just happened at our campus. There is definitely a gap in treatment that needs to be addressed.鈥�

To find the answer, Assadi made this the research focus of his dissertation, 鈥淢asculinity, Mental Health, and Attitudes on Willingness to Seek Help in Male College-Aged Students.鈥�

Despite the numerous studies suggesting that psychological treatments are equally efficacious for men and women, many men continue to exhibit reluctance toward seeking treatment for their psychological concerns. This significant gender disparity in mental health services utilization persists despite the mental illness severity. There are many quantitative studies regarding men鈥檚 help-seeking behaviors, but qualitative investigations into this phenomenon are scarce.

Assadi鈥檚 research involves data analysis from 12 in-depth interviews conducted with male college students. He found that adherence to traditional masculinity norms, stigma, and a lack of mental health literacy were the three most cited reasons why men did not go to therapy.

鈥淭he male college students wanted to be perceived as masculine, and you can see how that attitude might not mesh well with the counseling and help seeking process,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淎 lot of men are socialized to behave a certain way. They want to be perceived as masculine, independent, and tough. Admitting you have a problem and asking a stranger for help can be an uncomfortable experience for many men. When men feel that they are falling short of these masculine ideals, stigma may occur. The third issue is a lack of mental health literacy, which is the ability to recognize, understand, prevent, and treat mental health issues.鈥�

Assadi found that the men he interviewed actually thought it was fine for men to go to counseling, but had a blind spot when it came to their own mental health.

鈥淢en saw the importance of going to therapy, just not for themselves,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淭hey think it鈥檚 okay for other people to go to therapy, but they don鈥檛 extend that same grace to themselves. So they mask, minimize, or compartmentalize their mental health problems. But if this was happening to a friend, they would want their friends to tell them that they were struggling right away. They were more comfortable in the role of helper than the helped.鈥�

There are many solutions to encourage men in college to seek counseling. First off, universities can increase mental health literacy on campus by holding programming that makes mental health a visible topic on campus. Counseling Services can also educate students, faculty, staff, academic advisors, and residential assistants about how to refer students to counseling.

Another solution is to reduce the stigma that goes along with seeking counseling. Technology is an excellent way to combat stigma since online counseling sessions decrease the barrier to mental health access. Seeing a counselor from the comfort of your dorm room is a lot less intimidating than going to an office where you might be recognized, Assadi said.

鈥淲e can also use marketing to rebrand masculinity as incorporating mental health,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e all heard of toxic masculinity. Positive masculinity uses masculine traits as reasons for going to counseling. One example is responsibility. A man takes responsibility for their own mental health.鈥�

Assadi presented his research at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting in Chicago, the world鈥檚 largest gathering of education researchers and a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative studies.

Assadi also discussed his findings on an Aug. 27 episode of 鈥溾�� with Dr. Rikki Turner, suicide intervention expert. He gave insight about how mental health affects men and tips on how to navigate the shame and stigma for this population.

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鈥淛ust because something is fun and exciting doesn鈥檛 mean that it won鈥檛 cause you stress,鈥� said Dr. Aresh Assadi, director of Counseling Services at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭here is good stress and bad stress. Going to college is a great time in life, but there is also stress that comes with new opportunities and life changes, like moving, meeting deadlines, and managing expectations.鈥�

Adjusting to college life can be difficult, especially for new students and those who are moving from far away.

鈥淪tudents often feel homesick and miss their family, friends, and old way of life,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淔or a lot of people, college is where they have to take care of themselves for the first time. Independence is nice, but it can be tough. The major stressor  in college is that you are constantly being evaluated. Staying on top of assignments and meeting people鈥檚 expectations can be tough for students.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Counseling Services offers a wide range of resources and support to help students navigate the transition of returning to campus life, such as counseling and mental health programming. You can join them for Movement Mondays at noon every Monday in front of the campus bookstore to go on a walk. Online meditation sessions are offered at 9 a.m. on Mondays and noon on Thursdays.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a stretch to say that we need our brains to work properly to do well academically,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淚f someone is too stressed out, they won鈥檛 be able to do their assignments, stay on track, and do everything they need to do to be successful. Before you have a strong anxiety episode, come and ask for help. We can provide you with coping skills and different tools and resources to prevent that from happening.鈥�

Assadi has some tips to help college student learn how to manage back-to-school stress like a pro:

1. Set realistic goals 鈥� Having clear objectives can help you stay focused and motivated. Setting clear goals can keep you grounded and keep you from getting overwhelmed with the new challenges of college.

2. Establish a routine – Consistency is the key to managing your time effectively. This will help you balance your responsibilities and avoid last minute stress.

3. Prioritize self-care 鈥� Self-care is the little things you do just for yourself; it鈥檚 the ways in which we take care of our mental health. For me, it鈥檚 taking a walk, reading a book or meditating. Your mental and physical health are crucial for academic success. If you don鈥檛 feel like exercising alone, you can meet us every Monday at noon in front of the bookstore.

4. Stay organized – Staying organized helps reduce stress, keeps you on track, and makes sure you don鈥檛 miss important commitments during your college career.

5. Get involved – Engaging in extracurricular activities is a great way to meet people, develop skills, and enhance your college experience. Things seem a lot less stressful, especially college, when you are not doing them alone.

6. Maintain a positive mindset 鈥� Having a positive outlook on life will help you navigate the ups and downs of the semester and keep you from getting too stressed out.

7. Seek help when you need it 鈥� Coming to college is a major adjustment, but there is always someone on campus who can help you with your problems. You just have to ask for help. Unfortunately, there can be a stigma when it comes to mental health services, which is why people sometimes forgo asking for help when they really need it. That just makes it all the more important to ask for help.

If you find yourself needing some help adjusting to college, 鈥淐ounseling Services is here for you. We have a great staff with tons of experience. If you or your friends are having any issues that deal with mental health, we are here for you. You don鈥檛 have to go through it alone,鈥� Assadi said.

You can find out more information by visiting or visiting Counseling Services on the first floor of the Student Services Center, Suite 118.

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The pre-walk events will begin at 11 a.m. in front of Ottenheimer Library with a free brunch, therapy dogs, live music, a drum circle, bounce house, giveaways, and inspiring speakers. Chancellor Christina Drale will kick off the suicide prevention walk, which will begin at 1 p.m. and proceed for one mile around campus.

鈥淪uicide is the leading cause of death for young adults, and unfortunately, it has touched our campus community too often in the past few years,鈥� said Dr. Aresh Assadi, director of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Counseling Services. 鈥淥ur goal with this walk is not only to raise awareness of the impact of suicide in our community but also to offer hope to those directly affected.鈥�

About 1,100 college students die from suicide every year, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In Arkansas, suicide is the third leading cause of death for those aged 15-24 and the 10th leading cause of death in the state.

鈥淢ental health resources are available, but people have to know that it鈥檚 okay to reach out and find help,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淚 also want students to know that it鈥檚 okay to check in on a friend or even an acquaintance who seems to be struggling.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, employees, and community members may register for the event . Those who cannot attend the walk in person can also join as virtual walkers. All proceeds will go to the Arkansas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

For more information, contact Assadi at 501-916-3185 or axassadi@ualr.edu.

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Dr. Christina Sellers, assistant professor of social work at Simmons University, will be presenting her research on “Integrated Suicide and Substance Use Intervention for Adolescents in Substance Use Treatments,鈥� from 12:30-2 p.m. Feb. 28. The lecture is free to attend, and those interested may .

鈥淪uicide and substance use are often interrelated and worsen each other,鈥� Sellers said. 鈥淎dolescents with problematic substance use typically receive outpatient substance use treatment, where suicidal thoughts and behaviors are rarely fully addressed.鈥�

Sellers received a 2021 Young Investigator Grant from the for approximately $90,000 to develop a brief integrated substance use and suicide intervention plan developed collaboratively with clinicians and patients that can be delivered in an outpatient setting.

In the next phase of her research, Sellers will assess the intervention for feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects on suicide and substance-related outcomes.

The event is sponsored by 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Counseling Services, Wellness and Inclusion, and the Division of Student Affairs.

For more information, contact Assadi at axassadi@ualr.edu.

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This resounding success not only showcases the collective spirit that defines the university but also highlights the enduring commitment of its community to invest in the institution’s mission and future.

鈥淭his accomplishment is a testament to the dedication and generosity of our campus community,鈥� said Dr. Aresh Assadi, director of Counseling Services and chair of the Campus Campaign. 鈥淩eaching this participation level is not only a numerical success but also speaks to the sense of unity and commitment among our employees. I believe that boosting internal participation is crucial as it positively impacts our external fundraising efforts, creating a strong foundation for the university’s growth and development.鈥�

Reaching this goal speaks to the shared belief in the transformative power of education and the collective impact of small acts of giving. Altogether, nearly 350 university employees donated to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock during 2023.

“The spirited engagement of our dedicated faculty and staff in the Campus Campaign goes beyond monetary contributions,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement. 鈥淭his wholehearted internal support significantly fortifies our university’s standing as we approach external donors for major gifts. It communicates a compelling message 鈥� that those intimately connected to the university are wholeheartedly committed to its mission. This collective investment not only enhances our credibility but also amplifies our appeal when seeking external funds. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the staff, faculty, and administrators who played instrumental roles in organizing this year’s campaign. With the capable assistance of Laterika Tooks and Kristi Smith, it became a total team effort. Witnessing such collaboration makes me immensely proud to be a Trojan.”

The university owes a special thanks to the dedicated employees who helped lead the Campus Campaign effort across campus. Campus Campaign Steering Committee members included Assadi, Mark Baillie, Shelia Brooks, Sikia Brown, Jessie Burchfield, Anthony Buttrum, Katrina Christopher, Reed Claiborne, Shannon Collier-Tenison, andre cummings, Joe Felan, Tyler Harrison, Carrie Phillips, Derek Slagle, Judy Staley, Joanne Matson, Brandy Dixon, and Emily Bell.

Campus Campaign Ambassadors included Katie Helms, Dawn Johnson, Sadie Lea, Monica Meadows, Leisa Myles, Vanessa Whitman, Angela Willis, April Chatham-Capenter, Mercades Parker, Bobbie Handcock, Salina Ables, Reteisha Byrd, Morgan Leyenberger, Mohammad Goodarzi, Keith Harris, Mary French, Rachel Mercado, Belinda Nix, Cynthia Dedner, Al Baker, Jennifer Lampkin, Anne Turner, Grace Zafasi, and Mary Tillman.

鈥淭he dedication of our Steering Committee and Campus Ambassadors was evident throughout the campus, and I had the opportunity to observe the effort they invested behind the scenes,鈥� said Laterika Tooks, director of annual giving at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚 feel fortunate to collaborate with numerous faculty and staff members who are enthusiastic about their roles and committed to the development and achievement of this university.鈥�

A total of 18 campus departments achieved 100 percent giving in 2023, which is 50 percent more than 2022.

Those departments include Alumni and Development, Applied Communication, the Bursar鈥檚 Office, the Chancellor鈥檚 Office, Concurrent Enrollment, Counseling Services, Disability Resource Center, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Financial Services, Institute of Chief Data Officers, Mail Services, Marketing and Communications, Office of Military Student Success, Sequoyah National Research Center, Study Abroad, Student Retention Initiatives, Testing and Student Life Research, and the Trojan Transition and Assistance Center.

Bobbie Handcock, a web content specialist who served as a campus ambassador, said that she likes to donate to causes like the Trojan Food Pantry or to help buy caps and gowns for graduating students.

鈥淚 work at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and I鈥檓 also a graduate student,鈥� Handcock said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been able to see things from a student鈥檚 perspective and talk with my classmates about challenges that they may face. I know how important it is to have support 鈥� both financially and academically. The Campus Campaign generates funds to help students succeed and reach their goals.鈥�

As a campus campaign ambassador, Handcock explained how a gift to the university is an investment in future leaders, innovators, and professionals.

鈥淏y donating, you can help provide scholarships, financial aid, and resources to students who might not otherwise have the means to pursue a college education,鈥� Handcock said. 鈥淏y contributing, you can help feed someone who is hungry or clothe someone who needs business attire for a job interview. I shared ways that they could support the campaign, including purchasing a legacy brick, giving to an area that means the most to them or giving a gift-in-kind such as to the Trojan Career Closet. I encouraged them to remember that it doesn鈥檛 matter what you give, as long as you give.鈥�

The gifts are a part of the Centennial Campaign, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 fundraising campaign to raise $250 million in celebration of the university鈥檚 100-year anniversary in 2027. The Campus Campaign was part of a cumulative fundraising year that netted more than $22 million for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Visit to learn more about the Centennial Campaign.

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