Stress Less Week

Applications for Fall 2024 NOW OPEN.

Application closes on 8/31 at 11:59 pm EST. You may still use the FREE toolkit to host Stress Less events at any time of the year.

Apply Today

Is your chapter looking for Stress Less Week® support?

Chapter participation helps spread the message that there is strength in speaking up about one’s struggles. Apply today to bring Stress Less Week® to your campus this fall.

In partnership with Murad, Active Minds is proud to engage chapters at universities and colleges throughout the United States in a Stress Less event opportunity. The Stress Less Week® program is aimed to create a healthy and supportive campus environment for young adults by ensuring college students play a role in normalizing conversations around mental health. Murad is a wellness-focused skincare brand, who has decided to partner with Active Minds to increase the engagement of Active Minds’ bi-annual Stress Less Week® program on college campuses. Murad joins Active Minds in inspiring the next generation of young adult leaders to change the way our society and higher-education institutions talk about, care for, and value mental health. This event opportunity will take place October 21-25 of 2024. Application deadline is August 31, 2024.

As part of the Stress Less Week® program , chapters will be expected to:

  • Host a stress related event using Active Minds’ Stress Less Week® toolkit.
  • Post about the event on your chapter’s social channels using the unique program hashtag
  • Report regularly on the progress of your work, including: photos, videos, social media tracking, testimonials and event numbers.

Benefits

  • Chapter mini-grant of $500 for event planning
  • Murad x Active Minds Event Package (materials to support event organization and implementation)
  • Stress Less Week® Downloadable Kit
  • Access to all the resources available to Active Minds chapters nationwide.
  • Professional experience in public health outreach, mental health advocacy, social media management and campus marketing.
  • Professional Support
  • Unlimited technical assistance calls with Active Minds staff related to project scope.
  • Access to Active Minds social media repository, including approved images, text, and guidance for social media posts.

We can let others know we don’t think less of them for seeking help by bringing the conversation out into the open.

Stress Less Week Toolkit Cover

A guide for programming to reduce stress, promote self-care, and build communities.

ACTIVE MINDS’ STRESS LESS WEEK® TOOLKIT, is designed to provide education about stress and anxiety and build communities that are supportive of mental health. Stress Less Week® spreads the message that speaking up about one’s struggles is a sign of strength and promoting self-care is a priority. Stress Less Week® can be any week that makes sense in your year. As a national organization, Active Minds runs this program once in the spring and once in the fall.

Inside this free toolkit you’ll find education, tips, and resources designed to help you better understand and mitigate your stress while helping to shape a positive mental health culture among your community.

fill out the form to download the FREE toolkit!

10 ways to promote stress & anxiety management on your campus, in your community, or in your workplace

Connect: Start a virtual book club, movie night, or game night with co-workers and friends. Designate that time to be present with each other over zoom and enjoy an activity without your phones/screens.

 

Self-care strategies: Share a list of self care ideas and encourage others to share their own ways they engage in self care.

 

Host a panel discussion: Recruit a few people to talk about what stress or anxiety look like for them and how they cope as part of a panel discussion.

 

Take a break: Encourage everyone to schedule 30 minutes or one hour to take a break alone or together for a walk, yoga class, breathing workshop, or a shared snack.

 

Recess: Invite others to join you in activities you loved as a child, such as games, sports, or kids movies. Remember four-square? Red rover? Even just a pick-up game of basketball or an outdoor movie can provide a nice break.

 

Get crafty: Organize a night to get creative with paint, crafts, coloring, or zentangle. Use music and themes to create a fun night of stress management.

 

Experience pet therapy: Encourage everyone to bring their pets to your next meeting or social gathering and talk about how animals support our wellbeing.

 

Normalize stress and anxiety: Host an Active Minds Speaker for your campus or community, who can – as talented storytellers – help others feel more comfortable in their own experiences.  

 

Encourage laughter: Host a stand-up comedy night or make a community list of funny movie recommendations. Add a funny theme like wacky hats to add to the humor of the event!

 

Spread the word! Check out Active Minds’ Stress Less Week Programming Guide for more ideas and share Active Minds’ Stress or Anxiety? and Managing Anxiety infographics on social media or post them on bulletin boards.

young adults are less likely to seek help if they perceive that others would think less of them

additional resources

understanding our stress & anxiety

when it’s more than a bad day

check in on someone using V-A-R

hotlines

Text “Brave” to 741-741 to the Crisis Text Line or call/text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Both provide free, 24/7 support.

referral resources

get help cards

Four postcard-sized, takeaway cards with helpful messages of support and suggested resource.

download