Stress Less Week Encourages Miami Students to Pause, Recharge, and Prioritize Well-Being
Miami University’s Suicide Prevention Team, Student Counseling Service and Office of Student Wellness will host Stress Less Week from April 7-11, 2025. The weeklong campaign focuses on suicide prevention, stress management, self-care and well-being, helping students slow down and prioritize mental health.
Stress Less Week Encourages Miami Students to Pause, Recharge, and Prioritize Well-Being
As the semester picks up speed, slowing down becomes key. It's easy to get caught up in the rush of assignments, meetings, and everything in between. However, taking even a little time to pause can make things feel more manageable.
Miami University suicide prevention team, student counseling service, and office of student wellness are aiming to help students slow down. The groups will host Stress Less Week from April 7-11, 2025. This weeklong campaign focuses on suicide prevention, stress management, self-care, and well-being.
"College students are under more stress now than ever," said Jennifer Young, Ph.D., a psychologist and associate director for community engagement at the student counseling service. "Stress Less Week offers students a variety of programs and activities to help combat and cope with stress."
The week kicks off Monday, April 7, with a jam-packed day. Aromatherapy for spring is the first event, held from noon to 2 p.m. in the Wellness Studio, where calming scents will help students relax. That evening, students can attend "She's Crazy: Mental Health and Other Myths Musical." The show runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Armstrong Student Center, Wilks Theater. Then, from 8 to 9:30 p.m., join A.J. Brown, NFL Super Bowl Champion from the Philadelphia Eagles, for a moderated Q&A addressing his past mental health journey and ways he has coped.
The highlight of the week, Stress Less Day, is Thursday, April 10. The morning starts with yogurt parfaits and a de-stressing activity from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Wellness Studio. Over on Cook Field, students can get a caffeine boost from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Ramblin' Roast Coffee's coffee cart.
The main event is from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Armstrong Pavilion, featuring a wide range of activities, therapy dogs, student organization tables, food, and more.
"These events are a great opportunity as a student because it really makes me feel like Miami cares about me," said Miami sophomore Abby Meister.
Beyond the scheduled events, Stress Less Week serves a deeper purpose.
"Stress Less Week is more than a series of activities," Young said. "The Suicide Prevention Team and our campus partners have worked together to offer programs that equip students with tools to navigate mental health challenges."
By fostering these skills, the initiative aims to create a healthier campus community.
Other activities during the week include dog therapy, a mobile teaching kitchen, pop-up tea tasting, video games, workshops, and suicide prevention training.
All events are free and held at various locations across the Oxford campus. For more information, visit the student counseling service website.
The suicide prevention team consists of representatives from the student counseling service, the office of student wellness and the office of residence life, as well as Miami faculty, staff and students from various mental health-focused departments and organizations. Their mission is to educate the campus community about suicide prevention efforts to reduce and prevent suicide and mental health concerns among students and the community.
