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Seymour should sharpen up on facts over ‘harden up’ comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Seymour should sharpen up on facts over ‘harden up’ comments
15 September 2015
Media Release: New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations
The national student union says comments by ACT Party leader David Seymour should be withdrawn given the verifiable explosion of stress and anxiety experienced by New Zealand’s tertiary students.
Mr Seymour’s curt advice was given at Victoria University’s Weir House halls of residence last night on the issue of growing mental health issues amongst students, many of whom are under significant pressure from studies, paid work and pilling extra-curricular expectations.
According to multiple reports of the event, Mr Seymour said students would have to “harden up” and passed the microphone down the panel of MPs.
The remarks have led one of the students taken aback by Mr Seymour’s remarks, Sophie Wynn, to launch a petition asking for an apology. Miss Wynn calls on Mr Seymour to “consider how harmful” his comments were to “those who struggle with mental illness”.
National student president Rory McCourt says official data released by New Zealand’s universities shows Mr Seymour’s dismissive approach is out of step with evidence on the issue.
“Between 2009 and 2014 New Zealand’s eight universities experienced a 24 per cent increase in counselling sessions. At Victoria University, where Mr Seymour spoke, the number of individual students being seen by the counselling service has jumped 44.7% in the same time, to 2,139 students last year.”
At the University of Auckland the number of sessions rose almost four-fold from 1,215 in 2009 to 6,039 sessions last year. The university’s student numbers rose only 10 per cent over the five year period.
Mr McCourt says the reason for the near-universal rise in counselling sessions is in-part down to increased levels of stress and anxiety. This was confirmed in the union’s recent Income and Expenditure Survey which showed longer paid working hours and mounting debt were taking a toll on students’ mental wellbeing. University recognition of the issue through more available sessions was a good thing and students across the country say they value access to timely, affordable mental health services on campus.
Mr McCourt says Mr Seymour should spend some time on campus with students and ask them about the impact of rising rents, longer working hours and unsustainable academic pressure on their studies and mental health.
“I think we’re risking creating a generation of highly-strung graduates. With rises in counselling sessions on almost all campuses, this is a real issue. We're disappointed Mr Seymour has taken this approach despite the evidence. The data suggests this is a growing problem.”
“How bad does it have to get for politicians to take the deteriorating mental health of our students seriously?”
Student Counselling Sessions League
Table:
| Institution | Sessions in 2009 | Sessions in 2014 | Change (+/-)
| Student enrolment Change (+/-) |
| The University of Auckland | 1,215 | 2,139 | 397% | 10% |
| The University of Otago | 4600 | 5772 | 25% | -0.02 |
| Victoria University of Wellington | 5729 | 6982 | 22% | -8% |
| Massey University | 4246 | 5145 | 21% | -12% |
| Waikato University | 501 | 995 | 99% | -0.08% |
| AUT | 2629 | 2927 | 11% | 7% |
| Lincoln University | 1034 | 598 | -42% | -35% |
| University of Canterbury | 2617 | 3035 | 16% | -20% |
NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations
We stand for opportunity, for all.
NZUSA is the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, the national body that represents New Zealand's students' associations and the interests of New Zealand's 400,000 students at universities, polytechnics and in trades training.
We conduct original research, advocate to Government and through the media, and support New Zealand's students' associations to be more effective on behalf of their members. We advocate alongside Te Mana Akonga – The National Māori Students' Association, and Tertiary Women New Zealand – The NZUSA Women's Caucus.
Since 1929, we've believed in a society rich in opportunity, where anyone from anywhere can become any thing. We support accessible, affordable quality public tertiary education.
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