IU Libraries and the IU Health Center teamed up to host DeStress Fest in the Wells Library lobby last week.

DeStress Fest featured live music, games, crafts and even therapy dogs. Students learned about the benefits of essential oils, eating well, and even creati ve coloring on sheets of paper. Above all, they were able to get a much-needed break in the midst of the school week.

The event came at a stressful point in the semester for many students, and the stress that IU students have been feeling is indicative of national trends. A Harvard study found that three out of four college students reported experiencing at least one stressful life event in the last year. 

As the semester comes to a close, student schedules are full of projects, tests, and other school-related stresses. But a lot of student stress comes from home, too, especially for freshman Grace Cochran.

“School is definitely a stressor just because my parents are counting on me to get good grades and do well,” she said.

IU senior Jaeda Mason juggles a lot. She’s a resident assistant on campus, the historian for IU’s African American and African Diaspora Studies department, a producer for WIUX, and a cashier at the Friends of Art bookshop. She said that trying to finish her degree while being involved with extracurriculars and having a job has been difficult.

“I’ve definitely had moments where I just cannot do my work because I was so stressed,” she said.

In those moments, Mason has learned to be open and communicative with her supervisors and professors, especially when she needs an extension. And she tells her residents to do the same.   

“Tell them ahead of time. Sometimes if I know there’s a project that’s due in a week and I know I cannot finish it, I let them know ahead of time. They love that,” she said.

To cope with stress, Mason has discovered her favorite de-stressing techniques that she has also shared with her residents. These include exercising, eating healthy food and listening to music. She has also found that talking to people is one of the best ways to manage her stress.

While Mason has never used IU resources for mental health herself, she has noticed her residents improve after seeing someone with the Health Center’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Especially as freshmen, some of her residents have struggled with the transition into the college workload.

“I personally believe high school doesn’t really prepare you for college,” Mason said. “In college, you have more freedom, so it’s all on you. It’s all about that discipline, and sometimes we don’t learn that discipline, so it can be very hard.”

As student stress rises, one way to help it is to talk about it. Through events like DeStress Fest, IU helps its students recognize and deal with their stressors.

“It’s a lot. College is not easy at all, and people need to understand that,” Mason said.

For more information on IU resources to cope with stress, visit the Health Center’s website.