A mini mental-health fair will help students cope with stress on Thursday, November 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the CAW Student Centre Commons.

Health promotion nurse Judi Wilson says the fair was led by a group of fourth-year nursing students, who identified stress as a pressing issue for students.

Wilson says that academics, relationships and finances are stress catalysts, so the fair will display a variety of resources available to students on campus and in the community. Campus Recreation will promote fitness classes, as activity benefits mood. Alcohol and tobacco teams will educate students on the dangers of self-medicating, and Campus Ministry will offer spiritual support.

Jack.org, a UWindsor group focusing on mental health, will educate students on suicide awareness. The fair will also have a light for the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression occurring during fall and winter seasons.

A nationwide survey conducted in 2013 showed that 90 per cent of postsecondary students feel overwhelmed, as stress leads to anxiety and depression.

“We want to stop that from happening,” says Wilson. “Hopefully we can get information out to people on how important it is to take care of themselves.”

—Loren Mastracci