Photo of Ben Locke, used with permission
As highlighted in a 2025 report on Forbes.com, the president of the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors emphasized the importance of being proactive in addressing mental health concerns while avoiding an outdated crisis narrative. Being part of the executive board for AUCCCD, I have seen how many perceive college mental health as being in a crisis. In 2023, the National Education Association even released a report titled, “The Mental Health Crisis on College Campuses.” However, a 2024 report by The Chronicle of Higher Education shed light on how the crisis narrative is mainly a fear-based approach that could discourage help-seeking. This report cautioned against using the term “crisis” without careful consideration.
Dr. Ben Locke is a renowned psychologist with more than two decades of experience in college mental health. His research focuses on the clinical operations of campus counseling centers, and he currently holds the position of Chief Clinical Officer at Togetherall, a global service offering online peer support. Locke believes that the crisis narrative surrounding college mental health places undue pressure on the entire campus community. He explained, “Faculty and staff may feel unqualified to offer support, parents become more concerned, and counselors face escalating demands.”
Understanding the Crisis Narrative
Locke defines the crisis narrative as a prevailing cultural belief that has developed over the past two decades. According to him, this narrative suggests that mental health is in a state of crisis globally, extending beyond higher education. Locke argues that this narrative creates a cycle where the more it is talked about, the more people feel overwhelmed by it.
While acknowledging the increase in mental health issues, Locke emphasizes, “The narrative does not question whether people are struggling… it initially aimed to allocate resources to meet the growing demand.” He notes that schools vary in their mental health resources but often react impulsively to negative events without addressing the underlying needs of students or implementing a comprehensive mental health strategy.
Factors Contributing to the Crisis Narrative
According to Locke, the crisis narrative is a result of various factors that are accepted without scrutiny. These factors include well-meaning mental health advocates who use the narrative to advocate for more resources. Additionally, the proliferation of mental health research and surveys contributes to perpetuating the crisis narrative to prevent their services from becoming obsolete.
Locke also points to the role of media in sensationalizing mental health issues, often basing stories on limited data with sensational headlines. He argues that the mental health field has pathologized normal human experiences, leading to the misconception that every individual in distress requires professional intervention.
Addressing the Crisis Narrative
Locke suggests that the first step in combating the crisis narrative is assessing the availability of clinical resources on campus. In a 2021 report for the Center of Collegiate Mental Health, Locke proposed an Alignment Model and the use of a Clinical Load Index to guide counseling center staffing. He advocates for educational initiatives to counter the crisis narrative, stating, “Schools must acknowledge that human experiences involve challenges, and most students will face these challenges.”
Locke highlights his work with Togetherall, focusing on providing peer support on a global scale. He explains that Togetherall combines therapeutic peer support, ethical clinical principles, and shared experiences of peers. Students can engage in a global community or connect with fellow college students within the platform, all monitored by a clinical team. Locke notes that 92% of college students using Togetherall do not seek other support services on campus, illustrating the limitations of traditional clinical interventions. He emphasizes that mental health should be viewed as a community concern rather than solely a clinical issue.
