UT System Annual Mental Health Summit 2023

Event Information:

• June 12-13, 2023
• The Crowne Plaza, Knoxville, TN

To view the summit agenda click here or click the button below to download.

Did you know…

• 7 out of 10 students (71%) experience mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and/or depression (Source)
• In 2022, over three-quarters of college students (77%) experienced moderate to serious psychological distress (Source)
• 35% of students were diagnosed with anxiety; 27% had depression (Source)

Together, we can address these and other challenges impacting the well-being of students, faculty, and staff.

Description: Staff members who support mental health and well-being of students and faculty with mental health expertise will convene in Knoxville, TN for the first annual UT System Mental Health Summit. This event is hosted by the System Office of Academic Affairs and Student Success in collaboration with representatives from each UT campus.

By participating in the UT System Annual Mental Health Summit 2023, staff and faculty will:

• Develop a clear understanding of mental health programming, structure, and unique challenges across the UT System.
• Develop greater sense of camaraderie with mental health staff on other campuses and a desire to collaborate moving forward.
• Increase knowledge of current trends and important topics in student mental health based on research and practice.
• Return to their campus feeling supported in their work.
• Leave with tangible goals and action steps in response to the specific challenges on their campus.

If you have questions about this year’s event, please contact Leigh Cherry Morales (lcmorales@tennessee.edu).

In upcoming weeks, this website will be updated to include registration details and program information.

Event Registration

There are two ways to register for this event. You can register as a regular attendee or register to receive professional development. Choose from the options below:

Option One:

To register for this event as a regular attendee click the button below.

Option Two:

If you would like to receive professional development credit for your participation, you can register for this event in K@TE by clicking the link below

Hotel Information

The UT System Office of Academic Affairs, Research and Student Success has reserved a block of rooms at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for the evening of June 12. The conference rate for the event is $103. To book a hotel room, call 865-522-2600, ext 2366, and ask to speak with Jamie Julius, the Crown Plaza reservations manager (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm EST). He will book your room under the group name for the event, UT Academic Affairs & Student Success. If you intend to arrive early or stay longer, please contact Jamie Julius via email, to make sure you get the group rate for each night of your stay.

2023 Keynote Speaker

Dr. Ben Locke is a licensed psychologist and the Chief Clinical Officer for Togetherall, a clinically moderated peer support platform available to millions of people globally where he oversees an international team of clinical staff who provide 24/7 coverage. Ben has worked in the mental health field since 1995 in a wide variety of settings including wilderness therapy, psychiatric hospitals, group homes, community mental health, and more than 20 years in college/university counseling centers with a focus on administration, operations, and research. Prior to joining Togetherall, Ben served as the Senior Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Penn State University where he was also the founder and the Executive Director of the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, from 2004 to 2021 and an affiliate faculty member in Counseling and Clinical Psychology departments at Penn State University.

Keynote Overview

The threads that connect us: Coming to terms with the new reality of college student mental health.
This presentation will provide an overview of key trends in college student health over the last 20 years and articulate the defining challenges of college student mental health facing institutions today, including the problematic “crisis narrative” of mental health. A strategic framework for designing institutionally specific approaches to mental health will be discussed, including the balancing of treatment and population approaches.