University of Minnesota police responded to four separate mental health crises last week.

The first interventions occurred Monday and Tuesday, while the last two happened over the weekend Saturday and Sunday, according to University police.

Two of the incidents occurred at Middlebrook Hall, while the other crises were reported from the University’s Equine Center and the Como Student Community Cooperative.

“That was sort of the theme of the weekend,” said University police Deputy Chief Chuck Miner. “That’s a pretty fair number of issues.”

He said the number of mental health crises usually picks up around this time of year due to the added stress of finals and the upcoming holidays.

Dave Golden, Boynton Health Service spokesman, agreed with Miner’s assessment.

“We do get an increased demand in a whole number of services this time of year,” Golden said.

But he said students can do a number of things to reduce stress during a busy time of year.

“The No. 1 thing you can do is look at stress as something that can be managed,” Golden said.

School is intended to be stressful, but he said students who actively manage their stress levels tend to be more successful.

“It might seem counterintuitive, but get a good night’s sleep,” Golden said. “When you’re sleep deprived, it’s harder to make decisions and study.”

Golden also said following a healthy diet and exercise program are other ways to manage stress levels.

Avoiding alcohol is also key to reducing stress.

“Alcohol use is not a great way to manage stress,” Golden said. “You need to stay focused on what you need to do.”