Helping colleges address mental health
- April 9, 2026
Arkansas colleges and university programs focus on students’ mental health
College life can be both exciting and transformative. But higher education’s new challenges also can be overwhelming. Students are taking on more challenging academic work, living independently and managing their personal and professional responsibilities.
University of Central Arkansas students take part in events on their Conway campus to spread awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.
Students at the University of Central Arkansas learn about mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
During presentations about suicide awareness at the University of Central Arkansas, the importance to being able to communicate with one another is stressed.
UCA’s Bears Building Bridges program
To better equip both its staff and students to support and intervene with students in distress, the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in Conway, with support from the Blue & You Foundation for Healthier Arkansas, has introduced suicide-prevention programming for its students, faculty and staff.
To date, 1,013 UCA students have taken part in a suicide-prevention program. UCA also offers Mental Health First Aid training for its faculty and staff, and so far, 125 have completed the MHFA training.
“By equipping the UCA community to recognize and respond to mental health crises, this program creates a vital safety net that ensures Arkansas families never have to worry that their student is navigating their hardest moments alone,” said Mollie Henager, senior director of Foundation Relations for UCA.
As students integrate into college life, they build new social circles and a campus support network of trusted professors and mentors. When students feel anxious, overwhelmed or depressed, this new support network often is the first line of defense for addressing their mental health struggles. Completing Mental Health First Aid training enables faculty and staff to better support and help students in crisis.
School officials have seen awareness rise, stigmatization decline and personal confidence increase by addressing mental health challenges in the UCA student population.
“The world of higher education is always changing, including where, when and how we address mental health challenges among campus and community members,” said Dr. Evan Faidley of the UCA College of Education, who co-leads the Bears Building Bridges program. “The Blue & You Foundation has played a pivotal role in helping faculty, staff and students alike to recognize this reality and respond to the call for supporting each other at a human level.”
Dr. Odunola Oyeniyi, Dr. Faidley’s co-leader and College of Education colleague, agrees.
“This investment strengthens our ability to foster a campus environment that prioritizes early intervention, awareness and the overall well-being of our students,” Oyeniyi said.
The Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) training at Lyon College is a 1 to 2-hour emergency suicide prevention program that teaches individuals to recognize suicide warning signs, question a person about their intent, persuade them to seek help and refer them to appropriate resources.
Caring Campus Communities in Batesville
A grant from the Blue & You Foundation, awarded jointly to both Lyon College and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, allows the two schools to expand their outreach to students who need mental health resources. The grant is designed to strengthen mental health access and address the growing loneliness epidemic on college campuses.
The two schools worked together in partnership to promote emotional wellness and create connected, caring campus communities.
“The grant provided 10 free sessions of family and marriage therapy for 30 different students or employees and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) testing for students,” said Victoria Hutcheson, LPC, ATR, director of Mental and Behavioral Health at Lyon College.
The grant also provided medication management and genetic testing. The DNA testing, collected by swabbing a student’s cheek, evaluates which mental health medications might work best for them.
“Between workshops, testing, therapy and medication appointments, we were able to provide resources to over 100 people between the two campuses,” Hutcheson said.
Lyon College’s program also includes Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) training, a nationally recognized, evidence-based suicide prevention program. During the 1-to-2-hour training session, participants learn to recognize suicide warning signs and techniques for questioning a person about their intent. It also teaches participants how to persuade a person in distress to seek help and to refer them to appropriate resources.
“Mental health is essential for young adults, particularly college students, because it directly impacts their ability to learn, build relationships and navigate the challenges of academic and personal life,” said Danell Hetrick, vice president for Student Life & dean of students at Lyon College.
When students maintain good mental health, they are better able to manage stress, stay focused and make thoughtful decisions, she added. Lyon College also has recently increased its therapy services for students. Most of the mental health services the students receive are through private appointments.
“Prioritizing mental well-being also helps prevent burnout, supports resilience during difficult times and promotes overall success both inside and outside the classroom,” Hetrick said. “I truly feel it has had a positive impact on our students and our campus as a whole.”