Stress Less Week brings new ways to relax, recharge, and reset
Miami University’s Suicide Prevention Team, student counseling service, and office of student wellness will host Stress Less Week from April 13-17, 2026. The initiative offers students opportunities to pause, recharge, and explore new ways to manage stress while prioritizing their mental health and well-being.
Stress Less Week brings new ways to relax, recharge, and reset
Miami University’s Suicide Prevention Team, student counseling service, and office of student wellness will host Stress Less Week from April 13-17, 2026. The initiative offers students opportunities to pause, recharge, and explore new ways to manage stress while prioritizing their mental health and well-being.
Take a break. Try something new. Stress Less Week is here.
This time of year can feel overwhelming for students. Student organization responsibilities are peaking, class projects are ramping up, and the pressure of summer internships or other plans is mounting. Stress Less Week offers students a chance to take a breath, try something new, and focus on their well-being.
This year’s Stress Less Week will take place April 13-17. Led by Miami University’s suicide prevention team in partnership with student counseling service and the office of student wellness, the initiative focuses on suicide prevention, stress management, self-care, and overall well-being.
“College presents unique and difficult stressors for students,” said Jennifer Young, Ph.D., psychologist and associate director for community engagement at student counseling service. “Through the wide variety of activities and events offered during Stress Less Week, we hope students learn healthy ways to cope with and manage stress.”
The week kicks off Monday, April 13, with new, high-energy experiences designed to help students release stress and have fun. Students can step into the Rage Room to let off steam in a fully enclosed mobile space designed for safe stress release. They can also try the Break-A-Plate Room, where they can write down frustrations on a plate and smash it as a symbolic release, or unwind in a relaxation space featuring an oxygen bar, massage chairs, spinal exercisers, and foot massagers.
Students can also take part in an immersive listening and conversation experience hosted by Sonic Connections, where art and music, including current hits and unexpected tracks, spark real conversations that help students decompress and connect. All activities will be available from 3 to 7 p.m. in Armstrong Student Center.
Stress Less Day will take place Thursday, April 16, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Armstrong Pavilion, featuring activities designed to help students relax, recharge, and connect. Students can enjoy therapy dogs, free massages, giant board games, giveaways, and hands-on experiences. Additional offerings include snacks, crafting, adult coloring books, tea tasting, Lego building, and stress ball making.
"Stress Less Day is a great way to see all of what Miami has to offer and find the means to help increase your overall mental well-being on campus," said Carson Ebbrecht, peer health educator and president of Active Minds.
The evening continues with A Conversation About Stress, hosted by Active Minds, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Harrison Hall. The session offers a chance to connect with others and learn practical strategies for managing stress in daily life.
Interactive wellness experiences will also be available. Students can try Virtual Reality (VR) headsets with games and relaxation apps, participate in mindfulness and gratitude activities, and receive blood pressure assessments.
“We hope that Stress Less Day will help students access information that feels relevant for them on their wellness journeys,” said Charli Muszynski, assistant director for mental health promotion and education. “This information could look like completing an anxiety screening, learning how to help a friend who is in distress, gaining access to substance use and sexual safety information, or finding a pocket of joy they can carry with them throughout the end of the semester,” said Muszynski.
All Stress Less Week events are free and held at locations across campus. Visit the Student Counseling Service website for all event details.
“Stress Less Week helps strengthen our campus environment by letting students know they are not alone and they have resources available to support themselves and others,” said Muszynski.
The suicide prevention team includes representatives from student counseling service, the office of student wellness, and the office of residence life, along with faculty, staff, and students across campus. The team works to educate the community, reduce stigma, and support suicide prevention efforts.