young people's health and well being

The term's 'young people', 'youth' and 'adolescent' are common terms used to describe individuals aged from 12 to 25 years. The World Health Organisation (www.who.int) defines 'young people' as those aged 10 to 24 years, 'youth' as those aged 15 to 24 years and 'adolescent' as 10 to 19 years.  Please note, throughout this website, the terms 'young people', 'youth' and 'adolescence' are used interchangeably and refer to all individuals aged 12 to 25 years.

Young People's health and well being

The transition from childhood to adulthood (adolescence) is a crucial time in the development of health-related attitudes and behaviours. The NSW Association for Youth Health (NAYH) recognises that adolescence can be a period of high risk taking and habit forming behaviour, both of which can have long-term ramifications on an individual's health and wellbeing. Research shows that health compromising attitudes and behaviours exhibited in adulthood are often initiated during adolescence, making this an ideal time for prevention and early intervention interventions. 

Major health concerns for young people aged 12 to 25 years recognised by NAYH include: sexual health; mental health; self-harm and injury; alcohol and other substance abuse; and sexuality.

NAYH recognises that health is much more than simply the absence of illness and disease, and acknowledges the impact that social and environmental factors, such as: poverty; gender; housing and homelessness; cultural and ethnic background; family functioning; and geographical location and connectedness with school or community, have on the health and well being of young people in NSW.

Marginalised young people - who are they?

NAYH regards the term 'marginalised young people' as all young people aged 12 to 25 years who are at risk of, or currently:

 

• socio-economically disadvantaged;
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander;
• culturally and linguistically diverse;
• refugees;
• homeless or at risk of homelessness;
• gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex;
• living with a disability;
• socially isolated;
• living in regional and rural areas;
• experiencing current, or emerging mental health issues;
• experiencing drug and alcohol or emerging drug and alcohol problems;
• experiencing dual diagnosis;
• at-risk of, currently in or leaving out of home care;
• in contact with the criminal justice system;
• victims of crime;
• have responsibility to care for a family member and/or others with a long term illness, disability, mental illness or drug and alcohol problem (ie young carers);
• living with a history of abuse, neglect and trauma; and
• experiencing family breakdown.