03.10.2024

Blog: Students cannot take care of their wellbeing without sufficient financial security!

In honour of Wellbeing Week, we, as a student union, want to highlight the difficulties and challenges students face in coping within a performance-oriented education system and society. It’s probably not news to anyone that student wellbeing is under a lot of strain, and the results of the 2021 KOTT study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) offer no cause for celebration regarding students' mental health.

In light of this, we are deeply concerned about students' ability to cope amidst growing pressures and reforms demanding a faster pace of study. The current government has frozen the index increases of study grants, and the latest government proposal aims to revert students back to housing supplement under the student financial aid. This means cuts up to 170 euros per month of financial aid. The housing supplement for students is by no means sufficient to cover necessary housing costs, especially in Eastern Finland, where affordable rental housing is already scarce. And to make matters worse, once this government proposal takes effect, students won't be eligible for housing supplement year-round if, for example, they are not entitled to receive study grant over the summer. The question is, how are students supposed to maintain their wellbeing and graduate in time under such circumstances?

In the name of the Wellbeing Week, we state that a student’s wellbeing and mental health are not solely their responsibility. It’s impossible to promote wellbeing without humane financial support. When the majority of one's energy is spent on counting pennies and planning how to pay essential bills, investing in personal wellbeing becomes nearly impossible. Saving on student welfare is not an option if we still want to see healthy students, long careers, and happy citizens in the future.

It’s clear that ensuring the wellbeing and financial security of students is not only humane, but it’s in the best interest of society as a whole. Future wellbeing and success cannot be built at the expense of overburdened and exhausted students. We must work together to ensure that every student can focus on their studies without unreasonable concern for adequate financial security. This is why we appeal to decision-makers and the society at large: let’s give students the opportunity to focus on their education and wellbeing, because without sufficient financial security, there can not be sufficient wellbeing. Let’s support students now so they can become the strong foundation upon which we build a sustainable and thriving future.

Read more:

Thl.fi, opens in a new tab: Higher education students need support

Syl.fi, opens in a new tab: SYL’s statement for the Government’s budget session

Further information:

Jasmin Tuomi, Board Member, Social Policy, Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY), jasmin.tuomi(at)isyy.fi