STRESSED students had a chance to unwind when a ‘Zen Bus’ visited a hall of residence in Coventry to mark University Mental Health Day.
The Zen Project brought its big yellow bus to Student Roost’s accommodation property The Oaks, to help students from the University of Warwick to relax.
Students boarded the Zen Bus to take part in meditation and breathwork sessions to reduce stress, learn healthy coping mechanisms, raise mental health awareness and build supportive connections among peers.
They also unwound with fun activities including a Smash Your Stress water balloon event.
According to Student Roost and mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, students are increasingly seeking help for their mental health. As part of its Behind Every Door campaign, QR codes linking to mental health resources have been placed on the back of bedroom doors – and since 2022, there have been over 5,000 scans of the QR code.
The Zen Project was founded by Corinne Gardner and Kaye Smith in February 2020 following their own mental health struggles during corporate careers. They travel across the UK in the Zen Bus, a converted American school bus, to offer wellbeing sessions aimed at providing help to those who need it.
Lowri Edwards, Resident Wellbeing Manager at Student Roost, said: “We are so pleased to be able to bring the Zen Bus to students during what is a pivotal chapter in their lives.
“Last year, the reaction and feedback from residents was so positive, we knew we had to get the wheels in motion so more of our residents could experience the sessions.
“The sessions created by The Zen Project will help students prepare for their studies, feel grounded, reset and relax, and discover the importance of switching off and taking time for themselves.”
