Mental Health Week held in the shadow of students’ mental health crisis
This week is truly necessary due to the ongoing shortage of mental health resources for young people and students in Finland and the excessively long waiting times for treatment and therapy. It is crucial that addressing the mental health crisis among young people and students is prioritized in Finland, with significant investments in well-being rather than cuts.
Psychological symptoms among students have increased throughout the 2010s and are more common than in the entire population (THL & Kela 2021). According to a student survey of Tekniikan akateemiset (TEK), nearly half of technical students are often or constantly worried about their well-being (TEK 2022). As many as 36 per cent of business students are highly dissatisfied or dissatisfied with their own psychological well-being (Suomen Ekonomit 2023). According to the health and well-being survey of higher education students, approximately 24% of all higher education students feel lonely.
’The mental health crisis among students is an issue that affects the entire future of Finland. It’s crucial to curb the rise in mental health symptoms and illbeing among young people and students. Changing the direction of student well-being requires investments instead of cuts!’ comments Member of the AYY Board Wilma Branders.
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Tempaus – harnessing community for advocacy work
This autumn, Aalto University Student Union will organise Tempaus after a break of several years. Kaikkien käsien jälki Tempaus (“A Collective Handprint”) takes place on the hundredth anniversary of the engineer with a sturdy beard, a mythical figure that supervises the actions of engineering students. In his article, Juuso Määttä delves into the history of Tempaus.
Government cuts put a stop to the construction of student housing
We are shocked by the recent cuts of the Finnish Government which put student housing and its construction at stake. In its session on spending limits, the Government made significant cuts to the special group investment grants for student housing construction, which makes the commencement of already planned housing projects in the capital region uncertain and complicates the housing situation for students as well as the housing activities of the Aalto University Student Union (AYY).
Changes to deposits in the autumn
There will be changes to the deposit policy. In the future, deposits will not be collected from all tenants, but only in certain situations.