Zachary Seaton
2020 MR. UNITED STATES ESQUIRE
ARKANSAS
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Zachary Seaton, affectionately known as Zach, is a 30-year old from Magnolia, Arkansas where he lives with his husband Brad and their two dogs Noah and Monroe. Originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Zach moved to Magnolia when he was 13-years old and has remained an Arkansas resident since making the early childhood move. Zach graduated from Magnolia High School in 2008 and pursued higher education at Southern Arkansas University (SAU). While at SAU, Zach’s collegiate career was marked in academic achievement and extensive extracurricular involvement as a member of the SAU Mulerider Cheerleaders, Heritage Singers, Chamber Singers, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, and the president of Psi Chi, the international honor society of psychology students. In 2011, Zach graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a Minor in History. He began pursuing his master’s degree in January of 2012. While in graduate school, Zach conducted research on risk-taking behaviors of college students and was able to present his findings at the Arkansas Counselors Association, as well as the Southwestern Psychological Association. 2012 would also be the year that Zach would be invited to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City alongside the SAU Heritage Singers. In addition to his extensive research, Zach completed a 700-hour internship at an outpatient clinic, learning skills necessary to practice mental health treatment upon his graduation. In 2014, he graduated with his Master of Science Degree in Mental Health and Clinical Counseling. He would go on to pass his boards in the subsequent month, making him one of the youngest practicing counselors in the state of Arkansas at the age of 23.
Since completing graduation and becoming licensed, Zach has worked in several roles as a therapist, primarily in an inpatient psychiatric facility where he presently serves as the adult unit therapist. Apart from his occupation, Zach works as a freelance crochet designer and uses the craft as a way to overcome his own struggles with anxiety. In addition to designing crochet patterns and crafting, Zach has a biweekly podcast that he conducts on his YouTube channel where he discusses the craft, shares the benefits it can provide mentally, and encourages others to implement hobbies as a way of managing their mood and finding a sense of accomplishment. Zach has been able to reach individuals from all over the world as he has amassed thousands of subscribers, over 100,000 channel views, and his podcast has been published in two international magazines.
In his free time, Zach enjoys all things pageantry! He has been a lover of pageants since he was a teenager. Zach has since been afforded the opportunity to be even more deeply connected to the pageant industry by serving on several boards within the Miss Arkansas Organization, and serving as a MAO Judge in several preliminary pageants in the Miss America System. The Mr. United States National Pageant was Zach’s very first time competing in a pageant! It is his hope that by winning the national title, he can encourage others, especially men, to embrace mental health and fight the stigma that men are not "supposed” to talk about their feelings. An endearing lover of family, Zach enjoys spending time with his husband, his dogs, his two sisters (Ashley and Charissa), and his three nieces (Kensley, Langley, and Sutton). He’s an avid runner and has completed 3 marathons, an undertaking of physical activity that he uses to maintain mental stability, reduce stress, and improve his overall self-esteem. One of his favorite quotes centers his approach to life, “Never be afraid to fall apart because it is an opportunity to rebuild yourself the way you wish you had been all along.” - Rae Smith
PLATFORM
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
Long before Zach ever envisioned becoming the Nation’s Gentleman, or ever imagined a life of service dedicated to such a concentrated community platform, mental health was an intimate part of Zach’s life in an exigently trying way. From an early age, he was challenged to overcome what many children experience as an incomparable mission – overcoming the emotional trauma of bullying, anxiety, and depression. It would be years later that Zach would find his place in a full circle capacity as the counselor of such situations, largely produced from experiential lessons of his adolescent challenges. Since 2014, Zach has worked as a Licensed Professional Counselor in schools, outpatient clinics, and inpatient hospitals. His career has perhaps been the greatest informant of the severe lack of information clients and families have regarding mental health and its treatment, as well as the stigma attached to the discussion of mental health. His journey of servant leadership has truly aligned with purpose in a divine and timely fashion.
Mental Health Matters was birthed from experience and structured with measurable metrics of impact. The two-pillared platform specifically addresses two principal facets of the nation’s mental health epidemic: Increase of Awareness & Provision of Resources. While society is slowly becoming more aware of the mental health crisis that affects millions of Americans, there is still a considerable degree of improvement needed regarding its overall awareness. Moreover, vast pools of resources are continuously being developed and shared to help individuals clinically and socially manage their mental health. Mental Health Matters is yet another communal movement of our times designed to further subject matter education, and to provide valuable resources, both of which could foster healthy discussions to aid in symptom management. As a therapist, Zach is able to witness firsthand the struggles that nearly half of the US population faces on a daily basis, but neglects to address due to fear of judgement and a lack of understanding.
Mental Health Matters focuses on helping individuals, primarily men, recognize it is healthy and acceptable to take their mental health seriously, and the benefit of having access to effective resources that aid in their daily management. Zach is able to do this in his daily work as a therapist, but aims to bring the initiative to a larger scale, through engagement in schools, mental health centers and events, and an interactive presence on social media to allow others to know there are resources available even when they are not in therapy. "As someone who struggles with anxiety, I understand how important it is to know what my resources are and who I can reach out to during a difficult time. It is my ultimate goal as Mr. United States Esquire 2020 to help others gain access to information and resources that will allow them to put themselves first and make their health a priority." (Z. Seaton)
