Every college student deserves the chance to stress less

Gen Z is going through a bit of a mental health crisis as of late. We were told that college was the time where we were all supposed to feel alive and worry-free. While classes and homework would take up most of our time, pop culture showed us that there would still be plenty of time to go out and hang with friends.

Yet, a common thing I’ve heard from students around campus this semester is always how stressed we are. 

Between classes, homework, a job, extracurriculars and friends, we have an extremely hard time finding a chance to sit and relax. There are never enough hours in a day to get everything done and the pile of assignments never seems to lighten up, causing extreme amounts of stress and anxiety.

And that can be really overwhelming.

Right now, 91% of Gen Zers have said they’ve experienced physical or emotional symptoms due to stress and anxiety, an article published by timely.md reported. 

These symptoms can make the college experience even harder, especially when they start to interfere with schoolwork. No one wants to feel like they can’t do their best on a test because they are overloaded with work but also really need a chance to de-stress. 

It can make it feel like we have to either prioritize our mental health or our education. 

Some might say that the stress students feel today isn’t any worse than what it was for previous generations. But the numbers have risen astronomically for Gen Z compared to other generations. 

Betteryou.ai reported that eight in 10 college students report high levels of stress and 30% of students on a college campus who seek mental health treatment report it’s because of stress while 60% report it’s because of anxiety. 

That number is far too high, especially if there is no way for students to have a chance to take a breath and unwind, even if it’s just for a little while. 

Which is why it’s so important for students to take advantage of opportunities on campus that allow them to de-stress. 

I would encourage you to check out the Stress Less event hosted by RLA, CSC Counseling, Health Services, Campus Wellness and the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) if you’re one of the students who feel stressed or anxious because of school. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, in the Student Center, students can talk about topics like adulting, academic stress and homesickness and returning home in a psycho-educational groups. 

There will also be a chance to participate in yoga sessions, meditation and stress relieving coloring. The first 60 students to show up will also get a Stress Less gift bag. 

We shouldn’t have to prioritize school over our mental wellbeing. This event is a perfect opportunity for students on campus to take a chance to take a bit of time for themselves and de-stress.