Victoria University law students Sophie Wynn and Olive Wilson are calling for an apology following ACT leader David Seymour allegedly telling students with anxiety and depression to ''harden up''. Seymour says his comments were taken out of context.

A Wellington audience was stunned to hear ACT Leader David Seymour say people suffering from anxiety and depression should "harden up".

Seymour says the comments were taken out of context though stands by his belief that some people with mental health issues do not need medication.

Victoria University law student Sophie Wynn, who has personally suffered from anxiety and depression, was at the politicians' debate at Victoria University's Weir House on Monday night when Seymour made the comment.

ASHTEN MACDONALD/FAIRFAX NZ Victoria University law students Sophie Wynn and Olive Wilson were shocked to hear ACT leader David Seymour apparently claim people with anxiety and depression should ''harden up''.

A student in the audience raised a question about the the rise of depression and anxiety among students as a result of increasing pressures of money, work, extra curricular activities and university work, she said.

"I was completely and utterly disgusted when Seymour replied with 'harden up'.

"I was further disgusted when I approached him afterwards, to press him further about his comment.

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"I asked him if he knew about how anxiety and depression worked, and he said that those who claim to suffer from it are simply not choosing to be happy.

"He claims that people are over-medicated and that by labelling themselves as being mentally ill, they are making excuses as to why they are choosing not to be happy.

"I pushed further, and I shared my personal experiences with anxiety and depression.

"I asked him if he would tell me to harden up, and his response was a firm 'yes'.

She started an online petition calling on Seymour to apologise. It had more than 150 signatures by 11.30am on Tuesday.

Seymour said the telling was "completely misrepresenting" what happened on Monday and came from partisan students.

His comment came after a long question about the wider pressures students faced and the mental health issues were just one part of it , he said.

"If you are going to blame every problem on someone else, sometimes you have to harden up."

People with mental health issues did at times need medical help but he was not in favour medicating for every problem.

During his discussion with Wynn after the debate he told her there was a lot of help available and she should seek it, he said.

"Sometimes you have to make a choice and chose to make the most of things."

United Future Leader Peter Dunne heard the "harden up" comment and- like Seymour - said it was in relation to a wider question about stresses students faced.

Labour Leader Andrew Little was also at the debate and said the "remarkably insensitive" comment was followed by a "sharp intake of breath all around".

The student had asked a serious question and expected a serious answer, he said.

Law student Olive Wilson - who has also had mental health issues - said the comment hit her and the rest of the audience with disbelief.

"I didn't think somebody in his position, that educated, would say that about mental illness."

The Union of Students' Associations today called on Seymour to withdraw his comments, which it had heard "multiple reports" of.

"Seymour said students would have to 'harden up' and passed the microphone down the panel of MPs," a statement from the union said.

President Rory McCourt said official data showed that, between 2009 and 2014, there had been a nationwide rise of 24 percent of students getting counselling.\At Victoria University the jumped by 45 percent to 2139 students seen last year.

"We're risking creating a generation of highly-strung graduates. With rises in counselling sessions on almost all campuses, this is a real issue."

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements said Seymour's choice of wording was "unfortunate".

"The idea that people experiencing mental illness need to 'harden up' is unfortunately a common misconception, but it is very unhelpful.

"People in distress deserve our compassion and understanding, not our judgement."

She was pleased he had since clarified his meaning but said it was unfortunate he did not do that on the night.

"His audience was likely to include people who were negatively affected by his remarks."

University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Frazer Allan said the Politicians Corner event was held annually at Weir House.

As well as Seymour, Dunne, and Little, also there were Marama Fox of the Maori Party, Tracey Martin of New Zealand First, James Shaw of the Green Party, and Hekia Parata from National.

About 100 students were at the event. Wynn and Wilson had been offered support by the university, he said.