MacEwan students put stress-management strategies on display
The Peer Health Education Team at MacEwan held a “Stress Management” table display, spreading awareness and tips to cope with stress and time management.
Student and faculty responses to the the prompt, "What are healthy ways you like to manage your stress," at the "Stress Management" table display. Photo credit: Josef Fraess
MacEwan University’s Peer Health Education Team (PHET) offered students strategies for managing stress and their workloads during a campus wellness display Sept. 21.
The stress management display at Griffins Landing encouraged students to consider healthy ways to cope with stress and manage their time, as the fall semester ramps up with midterms and assignments.
“Our goal for the ‘Stress Management’ display is to promote wellness and mental health on campus,” said student volunteer Reva Chunkria.
“We want to engage the students and give students strategies on how to cope with their stress in a healthy way,” Chunkria said.
One in three students reported their mental health as poor, according to a 2024 survey conducted by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations.
Volunteers at the display encouraged students and faculty to grab a marker and write down healthy ways to deal with stress.
A nearby whiteboard filled with responses ranging from “Colouring” and “Punching bag” to “Go into the woods and scream.”
More than 40 people stopped by and interacted with the display by asking questions to volunteers, grabbing available trinkets, or writing their destressing methods on the whiteboard.
“[Stress] is something that is a part of life, but it shouldn’t run your life,” said Jean Gendron, a student at MacEwan.
Gendron works part-time at the Allard Equipment Centre, which adds further responsibilities to an already busy schedule, she said.
According to a 2025 MacEwan report, 34 per cent of MacEwan students work part-time while studying at the university.
“A certain amount of control over my life can be helpful with managing stress,” Gendron said.
“If I’m on top of things, then there’s less chance for me to be surprised by things,” she said.
PHET’s display also offered time-management strategies, including encouraging students to set aside time each day to plan and organize.
“There’s always something going on — [life] is going to add stress, whether you like it or not. It’s just a matter of how you choose to mitigate it and cope,” said Gendron.
The team has several upcoming health-promotion events, including themed activities. Student volunteer Esha Bartoloi said she is looking forward to one planned for Halloween.
“We’re going to have some really fun Halloween-themed displays. This year we’re going to do a pumpkin palooza,” said Bartoloi.
