On a Mission With Mission Kindness

Members of Mission Kindness pose in front of the giveaway table in the Oakland Center at Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, Thursday, March 19, 2026. This marks the second Mental Health Fair held at Oakland University. (Photo courtesy of Lori Zieman.)

Mental health advocacy is on the rise with Oakland University students. On March 19th, 2026 Mission Kindness at Oakland University hosted a Mental Health Fair to spread awareness to the cause on campus. Mission Kindness is an organization that is based on volunteer work around the Rochester Hills area and has events to advocate for different awareness on campus. 

Joey Zieman is the Outreach Coordinator for Mission Kindness who planned the Mental Health Fair. Zieman has had this idea since he worked at the Student Program Board (SPB) as a freshman but it never came into fruition. “Being a part of Mission Kindness starting in my junior year, I wanted to keep things bigger and better,” said Zieman. 

 At the Mental Health Fair there were fifteen different organizations dedicated to students to relieve stress by having coloring pages, painting rocks, writing nice messages on post it notes, wellness guides, and mental health flyers. While having interactive events there were two giveaways and trinkets pertaining to why mental health matters. 

“A Mental Health Fair is a good thing to have each year as it provides a multitude of resources and support from our university community,” said Zieman. “While students are at Oakland University for a multitude of reasons such as strictly academic, heavily involved with organizations, or an athlete, I wanted to bring many groups from all around campus to show that we are not alone.” 

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  A balloon artist shows off his creations behind his table covered in balloon creations.

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  Students wear balloon hats at the Mental Health Fair.

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  Students show off their balloon hats at the event.

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  A therapy dog keeps attendees company during the event.

According to a study from The Healthy Minds Network, 37% of college students fall into a depression due to academic stress, seasonal depression, and demographic factors. Academic stress during this time consists of workload within classes, performance pressure, and personal factors. Seasonal depression can come to students because of environmental changes, social isolation, and holiday stress. Environmental changes can play a factor in mental health due to reduced sunlight which reduces serotonin and heightens melatonin levels which causes depression. Having social isolation from friends and family is hard for students that live on campus, study abroad students, and out of state students. Not having your support system physically present can push students into isolation which leads students to stay in their rooms, creates social anxiety, or dropping out of school overall.

Being a college student can be hard at times, but knowing that Oakland University offers resources like organizations, advisors, or different departments, students feel more supported. Mission Kindness hosted their 2nd annual Mental Health Fair but there are other organizations and departments that are solely centered on mental health. These organizations include Mental Health Matters, Graham Health Center, Men of Today, Mental Health and Wellness for Women in STEM, and United 2 Heal. To contact Graham Health Center call (248) 370-2341.

For the suicide and crisis line please call 988.