UAMS, Arkansas Crisis Center partner

The Arkansas Crisis Center (ACC) announced a formal collaboration with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Psychiatry to curate and analyze two decades of crisis hotline records.

This joint effort marks a significant step in the state’s understanding of mental health trends and advancing evidence-based approaches to suicide prevention in Arkansas.

“This collaboration represents an important step forward in how we approach suicide prevention,” said Luke See, executive director of the Arkansas Crisis Center. “By combining decades of frontline experience with the research expertise of UAMS, we can start to see the bigger picture — what’s working, what’s changing, and where our energy can make the greatest impact. This collaboration brings compassion and science together for the people of Arkansas.”

The project will be led in collaboration with Dr. Elissa Wilburn, clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the UAMS Department of Psychiatry, who also serves on the ACC Board of Directors.

“For more than 40 years, the Arkansas Crisis Center has been a lifeline for Arkansans in distress,” Wilburn said. “This collaboration allows us to transform that experience into meaningful, data-driven insights — while upholding the confidentiality and trust that are at the core of ACC’s mission. Our goal is to use this information to strengthen prevention efforts and ensure that help is not only accessible but also proactive and effective.”

Dr. Laura Dunn, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and director of the Psychiatric Research Institute at UAMS, emphasized the broader significance of the work.

“This collaboration reflects UAMS’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of Arkansans through innovation, research, and compassionate care,” Dunn said. “By working with ACC, we gain access to real-world, de-identified data that can inform strategies, shape policy, and ultimately save lives.”

The initiative represents the first phase of a broader strategic effort by the Arkansas Crisis Center to pursue innovative, holistic approaches to suicide prevention — partnering with leaders in research, healthcare, and community engagement to address the issue from multiple perspectives.