Counseling Center satellite office will normalize mental health services at SU

The Daily Orange Editorial Board commends Syracuse University’s decision to relocate some programs in the Health Services building to accommodate a satellite Counseling Center office — a move that will prioritize accessibility and privacy for students seeking mental health treatment.

The decision signifies a strong re-evaluation of where student services are hosted on campus and how their locations affect the students utilizing them. Students have expressed discomfort over the Counseling Center’s extreme visibility on Walnut Avenue, where it’s surrounded by Greek houses, and the lack of privacy students experience as a result.

And since The Arch, SU’s expanded recreational and health services center, is not expected to open until fall 2019, the satellite office’s placement in the Health Services building will make receiving mental health services more accessible and approachable.

The Counseling Center satellite office will be housed in the spaces of the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs and the Office of Learning Communities, which will move to the Schine Student Center, where they rightfully belong.

The university’s move to open a satellite Counseling Center office also signifies a change in the culture surrounding discussions on mental health. The more exposed students are to service options available to them, the more likely SU is able to establish a healthier and happier campus environment.

The placement of a mental health services office in the Health Services building is only sensical. The office’s placement will play an instrumental role in normalizing mental health services on campus. And normalizing, rather than ostracizing, mental health services can only pave the way for greater acceptance and cultural change.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board serves as the voice of the organization and aims to contribute the perspectives of students to discussions that concern Syracuse University and the greater Syracuse community. The editorial board’s stances are determined by a majority of its members. You can read more about the editorial board here. Are you interested in pitching a topic for the editorial board to discuss? Email opinion@dailyorange.com.