ME Respite

New research from the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka has confirmed what so many in our community already know firsthand.

Led by Dr Nick Bowden of the University of Otago's Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, the study provides the first national picture of how people with ME/CFS are faring across multiple aspects of life.

People living with ME/CFS and Long Covid in Aotearoa face not only serious health challenges, but also limited access to support and significant long-term economic hardship.

This isn't just about being unwell. It's about the financial strain, the barriers to care, and the exhausting fight to access the help that should be there.

For those living with ME/CFS or Long Covid — or caring for someone who is — this research matters. It puts evidence behind the lived reality, and makes the case for real, meaningful change.

You can read more about the study here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/chronic-illness-linked-to-hardship-study

It's why access to the right support matters so much. 💙