David Seymour denies 'harden up' accusation

ACT leader David Seymour says he addressing a long list of concerns from students.

Act leader David Seymour says he has been wrongly accused of telling a Victoria University student to "harden up" when asked about anxiety and depression.

He said he had used the term "harden up" in a forum but it had been in response to a question about a long range of concerns, not just about anxiety and depression but about study and work, and the level of student allowances.

"I thought I could get up and do what every other candidate did which was given a long answer avoiding the issue and I thought 'well actually, if you are going to see everything as a problem, probably the best thing for you is to harden up."

Mr Seymour was one of several MPs speaking to a student forum at Weir House last night - the others were Labour leader Andrew Little, United Future leader Peter Dunne, Education Minister Hekia Parata, Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox and Green Party co-leader James Shaw.

Sohpie Wynne, a first year politics and law student, contacted the Herald to say she was appalled at Mr Seymour's answer. She said there was an intake of breath when he gave his answer and she approached him afterwards to clarify what he meant.

"His basic response to me was something not choosing to be happy is not making the most of life. I asked him if he would ask someone with depression on a bad day to hard up and he said he would."

She said she thought his response was despicable.

Mr Seymour said he did not say people chose to be unhappy "but I actually said you did have to choose sometimes how you are going to feel about something, which I think is true."

"But I did not say if you have a mental illness, you have chosen it."

He said he would apologise to Miss Wynn if he had said what she had claimed but he had not.

Mr Seymour said he had been a telephone counsellor for several years with Kidsline - the younger version of Lifeline. He had had friends with depression and anxiety.

Mr Dunne corroborated Miss Wynn's claim that there had been a sharp intake of breath at his answer to the forum but, like Mr Seymour, he thought the question had been a range of issues and not just about mental illness.

Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24 hours)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• The Word
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• CASPER Suicide Prevention
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.