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Free relaxation space offers massage chairs, meditation tools, and stress relief ahead of finals week
By Techiya Jackson, JacksonT1@Findlay.edu
With finals week fast approaching, stress levels among students at the University of Findlay rise. To help students manage their mental well-being, the University of Findlay Counseling Services introduced a new resource this spring called the Zen Zone located next to the Pulse Media Center in the AMU which opened March 3.
Jodi Firsdon the Senior Director of Counseling Services at UF is excited aboutthis project.
“I think it’s important to have a place where students and staff can have a breath of fresh air, and my hope with Zen Zone is to help them reach that even a little,” Firsdon said.
The Zen Zone is designed to provide a peaceful environment where students can take a break from all the pressures of academic life.
This new space at UF is filled with massage chairs, a bubble wall, meditation equipment and more. Firsdon says it is a great way to focus on the needs of students at the university, without having them worry about cost or acceptance.
UF Counseling Services received a mental health support grant from The Ohio Department of Higher Education to make this experience possible.
“This was a grant that has taken place over the past two years and has included numerous other projects. The budget for the Zen Zone was $24,901,” Firdson said via email. “This program was fully funded by Ohio Department of Higher Education.”
One of the Ohio Department of Higher Education mission statements includes creating equal opportunities for those looking to seek more education.
Major barriers to mental health support for college students include cost, social stigma, and doubts about effectiveness.
Due to these experiences, many students struggle in silence, hesitant to seek help. According to a 2024 U.S. News survey, about 70% of students have struggled with mental health since starting college.
UF student Chiamaka Izuegbunam used both the new Zen Zone and on-campus counseling services.
“I love the fact that UF offers this for students and staff free of cost,” Izuegbunam said. “College is a very stressful time, and no one really talks about it.”
Since its opening, the Zen Zone has received overwhelming amounts of positive feedback from students, according to Firsdon who noted that many students have shared their appreciation for the space and its benefits.
“Many students have expressed to me how beneficial this space has been for them so far, and that brings me so much joy,” Firsdon said.
Alongside Zen Zone, UF provides on campus counseling services to help support students’ mental health needs.
“The on-campus counseling services gives me an outlet, an escape at times when I’m just overwhelmed and not knowing what to do next,” Izuegbunam said.
A study by the National Library of Medicine shows that 32% of students experience higher levels of stress during finals week. This equates to rising depression symptoms in college students.
The introduction of the Zen Zone comes at a critical time, as research shows that college students often experience heightened levels of stress during finals week.
Another study by the American Psychological Association suggests that 60% of college students meet the qualifications for at least one mental health problem.
