In the US, state laws strictly regulate who can and cannot be involuntarily committed to psych wards. Staff at the university really can't be any more "strict" or "harsh" than staff at any other councelling center.
In recent decades, psych-laws have become more strict because as a society we have decided that it is better to involuntarily detain 20 people for a few days rather than let one person end their life. That seems like a pretty fair tradeoff to me, although one that reasonable people could easily disagree on. If you disagree, you should be lobbying your state psychological association, not complaining about random therapists at colleges.
States often allow psychological holds and extensions.
There’s little to no evidence required to keep someone for days or weeks under “observation”. Some states setup entirely separate court systems without due process, since commitment is a “civil matter”.
Some amount of blame falls with states allowing this type of behavior.
The burden is on psychologists to demonstrate the practices work and hospitals are properly equipped.
In recent decades, psych-laws have become more strict because as a society we have decided that it is better to involuntarily detain 20 people for a few days rather than let one person end their life. That seems like a pretty fair tradeoff to me, although one that reasonable people could easily disagree on. If you disagree, you should be lobbying your state psychological association, not complaining about random therapists at colleges.