Stress may be a constant companion for students, but tucked away in the University’s library is a book that promises relief.
The Ol’ Medical Colouring Book was designed by Carolyn Kane, ArtSci ’25, a HIST 212 student, under the supervision of Bracken Health Sciences Library Librarian, Angelique Roy, and W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections Curator, Brendan Edwards. The project began in fall 2022 to help students de-stress during their time at university and since then has since gained international recognition.
The book was created for the purpose of supporting students’ mental health by being a creative outlet and a means of relaxation. Kane, in an interview with The Journal, explained how she saw firsthand how students engaged with it during exam season.
“The Ol’ Medical Colouring Book has been supporting Queen’s students since Fall 2022. Edwards regularly informs me about how many times it’s been reprinted. It’s definitely in high demand. It’s funny because I worked at the Library as a Library Assistant, so I would see students colouring the book during exams.”
Research supports the effectiveness of creative outlets like colouring in reducing stress. A 2019, a survey conducted by the National College Health Assessment with data collected from Canadian post-secondary institutions revealed that 88.2 per cent of university students report feeling “overwhelmed,” with 45.6 per cent reporting their stress levels to be “more than average,” and 15.3 per cent reporting them to be “tremendous.”
Similar findings emerged from a study conducted in 2022 highlighted common student stressors such as sleep deprivation, personal expectations, and peer comparison.
Libraries, too, play an important role in student well-being. A paper published in The Journal of Library Outreach and Engagement discussed that students use the physical academic library as a way to cope with academic stress. It revealed how integral the library space is to supporting students’ well-being by helping them manage stress and avoid burnout.
Reflecting on the project’s start, Kane credited Roy and Edwards with the idea but shared her own contributions. “The idea originated from Brendan Edwards and Angélique Roy. However, there were a few aspects that I had ideas for in the colouring book, such as including pages on plants, as I thought that this would appeal to a wider audience than just medical-related students,” Kane said in an interview with The Journal.
Beyond the colouring book, Kane hopes the project encourages students to take advantage of the broader supports available at Queen’s.
“I know that the colouring book has acted as a stress relief to students for three years, and I hope it continues to act as so for many years to come, even if it only alleviates stress temporarily,” Kane said.
Tags
Anxiety, Library, stress relief
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