Student Stress

University students are experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression partly due to the financial pressures we are placed under today.

• As this article in the Critic discusses, the cost of living has risen dramatically in the last 10 years and the financial assistance from the government has not risen to meet this.
  
• Victoria University magazine, Salient, discusses the mental health crisis among NZ students which shows approximately 45% of students experience a constant state of poor emotional wellbeing.
  
• In this article from the Huffington Post the mental health benefits of flowers is discussed. The presence of flowers improves our mood, as well as giving students a home comfort in their cold flats. Decreasing stress and anxiety in students, particularly at home where they need to rest, is important for their mental wellbeing.

As well as giving flowers through the Free Store, it could be possible to team up with a student association such as MAWSA to give students access to an otherwise unaffordable luxury.