Youth Health

Youth Health is the range of approaches to preventing, detecting or treating young people’s health and well being (WHO, 2001). The term adolescent and young people are often used interchangeably, as are the terms Adolescent Health and Youth Health.

Young people’s health is of often complex and requires a comprehensive, biopsychosocial approach (NSW Health, 1998).

Key Health Services for Young People
Youth Health includes Adolescent medicine as a speciality, along with other primary and tertiary care services.

Key health services for young people:
 * Adolescent medicine
 * Child protection
 * Drug and Alcohol services and Youth Drug courts
 * General practitioners
 * Justice Health
 * Mental Health services
 * Psychology
 * School health services
 * Sexual health services
 * Social work
 * Transition care
 * Youth health professionals
 * Youth health services and 'one-stop-shops' for young people
 * Youth work and youth development services
 * Web based supports such as Reach Out!

Capacity building organisations support the Youth health sector by providing access to information and resources, conducting research and providing training.

Key Youth Health Problems
Key Features of Youth Health Problems Young people engage in risky behaviours that affect their health and therefore the majority of health problems are psychosocial. Many young people experience multiple problems. These behaviours are established as a young person and go on to become the lifestyles of adults leading to chronic health problems. Social, cultural and environmental factors are all important (Chown et al 2004).

The leading health related problems in the age group 12 – 24 years are (AIHW, 2007):
 * Accidents and injuries both unintentional and self-injury
 * Mental health problems including depression and suicide
 * Behavioural problems including substance abuse
 * Sexual health / Infectious diseases
 * Nutrition and physical activity
 * Chronic illness
 * Physical and Sexual Assault
 * Youth homelessness
 * Young parents

Factors Influencing Health and Wellbeing according to the Australian National Youth Information Framework (AIHW, 2007) include:
 * Environmental factors
 * Socio-economic factors
 * Community capacity
 * Health behaviours
 * Person related factors

Key Principles in Youth Health

 * Collaborative approaches
 * Evidence-based practice
 * Harm reduction
 * Health promotion
 * Social justice
 * Youth development
 * Youth empowerment
 * Youth participation
 * Youth rights
 * Youth voice

Young Peoples Access to Health Care
Studies have identified major barriers to young peoples’ access to appropriate health care are (Booth et al, 2002) including concerns about confidentiality, practitioners attitudes and communication style, environment, availability of services, cost and the developmental characteristics of young people.

Overcoming young peoples barriers to accessing health care

Princplies for overcomming the barriers to young peoples’ access to appropriate health care (Kang et al, 2005, CAAH, 2006) include:

1. Access facilitation

2. Evidence-based practice

3. Youth participation

4. Collaboration

5. Professional development

6. Sustainability

7. Evaluation

Youth Participation
Youth health polices also recognise the need active participation with young people so that services are appropriate and have an understanding of their needs (NSW Health, 1998). Taking Participation Seriously is a resource for organisations who want practical advice about how to involve children and young people in activities, events and decision-making about issues that affect their lives (NSW Commission for Children and Young People, 2002).