By Decordric Winzer/reporter

NW students and faculty could test their stress in the WTLO foyer Feb. 25 throughout the first half of the day.

NW counselor Brentom Jackson led the testing with the use of an emWave2, which is a device that measures the human body’s pulse and breathing rates.

“It gives students an indication about their stress levels and hopes to encourage them to do something about it,” Jackson said.

The way it works is by placing a thumb down on a pad about the size of a computer mouse. Stress levels show up in three different colors.

If the device indicates red, it means the body has high levels of stress, and if blue, it means that stress levels are in the middle zone, Jackson said.

If the emWave2 blinks green, those are people who know how to manage stress and are usually stress free.

“It’s good for you to know how your mental health is doing,’’ NW student Danielle Nafziger said. “Testing your stress is a way we can all check ourselves.”

NW student Elisabeth Webber described how she was shocked by her results because it seemed reversed in her opinion.

“Results said I was physically stressed when I work out every day, and it says I’m mentally okay when I don’t feel good,’’ she said.

The event was a part of #MentalHealthMatters week.

“We just want to make sure students are sleeping and eating enough,” Jackson said.

After the testing was done, students and faculty could take home one of a variety of stress balls.

“It’s a way to bring attention to mental health and to raise awareness for this cause,” Jackson said.