The Family Therapy Center of Virginia Tech is now home to ASPIRE (The Alliance for the Study of Suicide Prevention and Intervention Through Relationship Enrichment). Led by Assistant Professor, Dr. Jody Russon, the goal of ASPIRE is to develop and study effective prevention and intervention strategies to address suicide and mental health distress among vulnerable populations. The programs and practices studied by ASPIRE aim to strengthen relationships, empower communities, and develop collaborative partnerships. In the past year, ASPIRE has collaborated with the Virginia Tech Carillon School of Medicine, the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Drexel University Center for Family Intervention Science to provide education and conduct research on suicide prevention. This upcoming academic year, ASPIRE plans to launch a new, funded project aimed to understand the relationships between suicidality, help-seeking, service utilization, and experiences of stigma among traditionally underserved college students.
