Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Describe current patterns and key drivers of rising mental illness and suicide risk among college students and explain how these trends shape the responsibilities of social work education and campus-wide prevention efforts.
2. Analyze the core components of the proposed SoTL intervention (a first-year, two-semester mental health and suicide-prevention curriculum paired with retention and curriculum evaluation) and justify how its design addresses documented gaps in mental health literacy, stigma reduction, help-seeking behaviors, and persistence outcomes.
3. Apply SoTL-informed evaluation strategies by identifying at least two feasible assessment measures (for learning, help-seeking behavior, and/or retention) and proposing one actionable adaptation that could support implementation, equity, and sustainability within their own institutional context.

 

Presenter Bio:

Jalil Shaid Malik is a man of faith. He acknowledges that all achievements, accomplishments, and opportunities throughout his academic and professional journey are attributable to the goodness and grace of Jesus Christ. This faith-informed commitment to compassion and service shapes his advocacy for students and strengthens his focus on integrating mental health awareness into academic spaces. It also informs the values underlying his capstone work, reinforcing a research approach oriented toward dignity, hope, and support-seeking as essential components of student well-being. Mr. Malik is a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) candidate and serves as an Academic Advisor for the College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Malik’s scholarly interests focus on mental health and suicidality, with particular attention to college student populations. His DSW capstone project examines the question: How does education about mental health and suicidality enhance mental health awareness and facilitate help-seeking behaviors among college students? Through this research, he seeks to contribute empirically grounded insights that inform preventive education, reduce stigma, and promote timely engagement with mental health resources across university settings. His work is grounded in practice-informed scholarship and intended to support institutional efforts to improve student well-being and retention.

Mr. Malik holds a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Additionally, Mr. Malik served honorably as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years, during which he demonstrated outstanding service, leadership, and dedication to the development and welfare of those under his supervision.

 

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Session not eligible for CE credit.

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.