Using case study methodology with mixed methods, this research sought to appraise, given a lack of baseline data, the impact of a fall break on student mental health. While the surveys revealed that students overwhelmingly liked the break and perceived it to reduce their school related stress, the focus groups revealed that while the break may have improved student perceptions of self-related stress by allowing more time for personal appointments, to make some extra money, or to go home and see family and friends, it did little to actually alleviate school-related stress from having too many appointments, multiple exams back-to-back, a heavy workload, multiple courses to manage, and the associated deadlines to meet.
