Launch of the Association for Young People's Health.

摘要

Growing concerns about the health of young people continue. The UN1CEF report in 2007 placed Britain at the bottom of the 21 richest countries in terms of how children and young people rated their emotional wellbeing. UK teenagers undertake more risky behaviour than any other European nations' youth, increasing the harm associated with unprotected sex, smoking, alcohol and substance abuse along with unhealthy eating habits. Some improvements have been made. We now have the lowest rate of underage conception for 20 years, which is clearly good news. However, one interpretation of the statistics still estimates a current rate of 1 in 50 UK schoolgirls falling pregnant which seems like poor progress in an era of increased focus on sexual health, informed by pivotal documents such as the NSF Framework for Children, Young people and Maternity. Services (2004) and the RCGP initiative Getting it Right for Teenagers in Your Practice. Obesity is also on the rise and will continue to compromise the health of young people for years to come.