Cambridge University offers adult coloring books and lego building sessions to students stressed about upcoming exams
- Activities on offer also include yoga sessions and a DIY nail salon in libraries
- the university said there is evidence that the activities promote “mindfulness.”
Cambridge University offers adult coloring books and Lego building sessions to stressed students as exam season approaches.
A series of activities has been introduced in the libraries of the prestigious university to provide ‘welfare support’.
A college library has even set up a DIY nail salon in addition to yoga sessions and embroidery, according to The times.
The university told the paper there was “good evidence to suggest that activities promote relaxation and mindfulness” as students flock to study areas.
The increased assistance to the university comes after the death of six students last year.
Cambridge University offers adult coloring books to stressed students as exam season approaches
Speaking last July after five cases of suicide or suspected suicide in four months, Professor Graham Virgo, the senior pro vice-chancellor for education, said the university was working with the NHS and public health authorities to ‘look at what happened and what the lessons [are] that we can learn’.
The stress management measures also follow the launch of the university’s new Reach Out campaign, which encourages struggling students to seek help.
The campaign has been launched to meet the increased demand for mental health services in Cambridge, where the number of people accessing the services has increased by 30 per cent over the past four years.
It will invest £4.7 million over three years to reduce waiting times for mental health services, while colleges plan to recruit welfare consultants who will co-ordinate university services.
Stress-inducing activities vary in the university’s collection of libraries, with the Engineering Library offering hide and seek.
For a more static solution, other study areas have provided students with stress balls and weighted blankets to make revising more comfortable.
Lego building sessions, yoga sessions and a DIY nail clipper are all part of an effort to provide ‘welfare support’
In addition to Lego, the list of games extends to Scrabble, Dobble, and Linkee to help students switch off.
At the university’s Marshall Library, students can even swap their study buddy for Jasper, a three-legged tomcat, with whom to spend time.
For those who seek refuge in books, there is also a ‘welfare collection’ of 150 books on topics such as faith, race and gender.
While the university has suggested the new activities are popular with students, one student accused the organization of “mollycoddling.”
Second-year student Devika Shah, 20, told The Times the measures do not address “the real problem of mental health and lack of fulfillment” among students at the university.
