Meet the Arkansas Junior Board of Directors

Kelsey Bell, Junior Board Chair - Kelsey began volunteering with AFSP in 2013 after her own suicide attempts and struggles with depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Kelsey was honored with the Young Professional Community Service Award from the Office of the Governor for her year long internship with AFSP’s area director. Kelsey’s passion lies in public awareness, policy change in healthcare, and finding evidence based treatments for chronic mental health conditions. She is currently working towards her degree in Psychology and Nonprofit Leadership Studies, and plans to pursue graduate degrees in Public Health and Clinical Psychology. Kelsey will continue to share her story and use her experience to further AFSP's mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

Suma Ashok - Suma is a Strategic Planning Associate in healthcare, working for CHI St. Vincent Health System. Originally hailing from India, Suma has discovered a common thread in mental health between the two countries: lack of appropriate education and awareness. Suma is eager to be a changemaker and help spread awareness across communities and countries.

Kyndri first became involved with AFSP while completing a project for her Master's program for a nonprofit organization of her choosing. She chose AFSP due to her own struggles with severe anxiety as well as the loss of her uncle to suicide. She felt as though her personal connection would benefit her project. While interviewing the Area Director for the chapter she became very intrigued and decided to further her involvement to help the ones struggling with the same issues as herself and her late uncle. She graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with a BS in Radiologic Imaging in 2016 and has worked in various positions for imaging and clinical management in hospitals, urgent care, and mobile imaging organizations. After years of residency in Little Rock, Kyndri decided to become a travel X-ray Tech. She has traveled from South Carolina to California and everywhere in between. She is also getting her Master's in Health Administration at Southern New Hampshire University and has volunteered at various nursing homes in Little Rock in positions such as Assistant Activities Director and Administrator Assistant. Kyndri has aspirations of using her degree to gain experience in leadership and become more involved in long-term care and/or nonprofit sectors such as AFSP to fulfill her passion for helping others and advocating for major health issues. Her goals for involvement include presenting educational programs for suicide prevention and using this platform to provide hope and encouragement to those in need. 

Emma became involved in AFSP in 2016, volunteering at different events and walks throughout the years. Emma began their journey with AFSP volunteering with their family, but after their own personal struggles and their close one's struggles with suicide, suicide prevention quickly became a passion of theirs, becoming a member of the AFSP Arkansas Chapter Junior Board in 2022. Emma is currently a student at Hendrix College, pursuing a Bachelor's in Psychology. They then plan to pursue a graduate degree in Public Health, so that they can work with people who struggle with suicide and suicide loss survivors. Emma's passions lie in public awareness and advocating for mental health, especially for children. 

Willow Danielle and her family became involved with AFSP in 2013 at a Community Walk in Batesville after the loss of her grate-grandfather to suicide. Since then, she has volunteered at many Out of the Darkness Community and Campus Walks. Her passion for mental health advocacy truly grew after her own personal struggles and in her search to find LGBT competent mental health care. As a transgender woman, Willow has first-hand seen the disparities and through past direct service and community organizing work with the LGBT community, when it comes to competent mental health care in Arkansas and nationwide. Willow is a 2021 Colin Higgins Youth Courage Award recipient in recognition of her work with LGBT youth, and her advocacy work during the 2021 legislative session to protect the rights of young transgender people and their medical autonomy. Willow is currently in cosmetology school and is shifting her focus to community-based work so she can pursue her passion for doing hair.