Students passing through McKeldin Mall Thursday had the chance to participate in Stress Less Week activities, such as writing positive messages and popping bubble wrap.

This university’s chapter of Active Minds — a national organization that aims to raise awareness of college mental health and remove the stigma surrounding mental illnesses — brought together the Stress Less Carnival this week to connect university students to mental health resources.

“[Stress Less week] is basically to teach students about mental health as well as teaching them mechanisms to deal with stress, especially right before finals come in,” said Jaclyn Webber, the Active Minds campus outreach coordinator.

The second annual weeklong program, which began as a one-day carnival in 2012 and transitioned into the longer event, was planned by more than 20 organizations, including departments and student groups at this university such as the University Health Center, Counseling Center, Theta Pi Sigma, the LGBTQ “frarority” on the campus, and Campus Recreation Services, said Webber, a sophomore psychology major.

Active Minds Campus Outreach Director Juinell Williams said many students graduate without knowing about the Counseling Center. She said the goal was to teach students new ways to ease their minds, but also to show them where to go if they or their friends need help.

“We want students to know you’re paying these fees [for the resources] anyway, you might as well take advantage of them,” said Williams, a senior community health and psychology major.

The carnival also featured activities such as Play-Doh crafts, a bouncy castle obstacle course, coloring books and free Rita’s Italian ice.

“I spun a couple wheels, did some plank challenges and did the [obstacle course] about seven times by now,” sophomore economics major Khaleed Robinson said. “It kind of reminded me I’ve got to keep coming out. Today was my day to just stay inside but I decided to come and now I’m like, ‘I feel a lot better!’”

The Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk on Sunday was also part of the week’s events, which drew 500 people and raised more than $21,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“It’s important that this was during Stress Less Week. Suicide can be related to stress,” said Jacob Katinsky, Lambda Chi Alpha vice president and sophomore marketing and psychology major. “Life can weigh on you sometimes and feel very heavy on your shoulders, especially in college when students are under so much pressure.”

Transfer and off-campus students were invited to brunch at Stamp Student Union to talk to members of Active Minds about mental health and include them as part of the group’s advocacy efforts.

Active Minds also set up a panel of five student-veterans who spoke to 10 people. The veterans, who were both in and out of duty, shared their experience maintaining mental health and spoke about the stigma surrounding the men and women who leave duty because of mental health problems.

“No matter what student group you’re a part of or what you’re dedicated to on campus, everybody experiences mental health,” said Emma Murray, the fundraising director for Active Minds.

Another event, the Multicultural Poster Project at Hornbake Plaza on Monday, featured posters of students and campus counselors from different backgrounds who shared stories about mental health in various languages.

“Mental health affects everybody no matter their race or color or ethnicity, so that breaks the stigma,” said Murray, a senior family science and psychology major.

The Stress Less Week programs conclude today with the Leave It on the Line event at McKeldin Mall, where students can write positive messages about themselves, accomplishments and their friends and hang them on a surrounding clothesline.

“Our goal is really to engage people in conversation about mental health, about self-care, about what do when you’re a little stressed out about your school life. It doesn’t always have to be on such a high level as a severe mental illness,” Murray said.