If you are
between 10-24, your days are never the same. Each day can have many different
life events.
- You may be in school and
school-related activities.
- You may volunteer.
- You may have a job.
- You may be busy keeping up with
the lives of your friends.
- You may even be in a relationship
with someone special.
You may also be
facing other challenges in your everyday life. At the same time, you are
growing, living life and learning more about who you are. You are
deciding who you want to be.
Most youth are
generally healthy. Some important health and social issues may start during
these years.
Examples include:
Motor vehicle accidents
Mental Health challenges
Substance use
Nutrition and weight conditions
Sexually transmitted infections, including HIV
Teen and unintended pregnancies
Homelessness
Academic problems and dropping out of school
Suicide
Homicide
Emerging
Issues in Adolescent and Young Adult Health:
Three issues can influence
the health of adolescents:
- This population is diverse. There are
increases in the numbers of Latino and Asian American youth. The growing ethnic
diversity will need cultural awareness to health care needs.
- Mental health has an intense impact on
physical health, academic achievement, and well-being. About 50% of mental
disorders begin by age 14 and 75% begin by age 24.
- Positive
youth development (PYD) interventions provides all youth with:
- support,
- relationships,
- experiences,
- resources,
and
- opportunities
needed to become competent, thriving adults.
PYD is growing
and helps prevent health risk behaviors. Evidence shows that well-designed PYD
interventions can lead to positive outcomes. Visit the Texas
Youth Action Network for
more information.
Why Is Health
Important?
During the teen
years, there are body changes and skills like independent activities. Young
adults over 18 also face social and economic challenges. They have to take on
adult issues but there are few system supports.
There are
significant disparities in outcomes among racial and ethnic groups. African
Americans, American Indians, and Latinos struggle with obesity, unintended pregnancy,
tooth decay, and education.
The leading
causes of illness and death among adolescents are preventable. Health outcomes
are behavior-related and linked to many social factors. The following examples
can help:
Family
- Youth who have a good bond with a
caring adult are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.
- Parents involved in their teen’s activities provide a safe way to
explore the world.
- Children in poverty may be at higher
risk for some health conditions and have a poorer health status. They have
less access to and use of health care services.
School
- Student health affects school
achievement. Healthy students are more effective learners.
- Academic success and achievement can
predict overall adult health outcomes.
- High school graduation leads to lower
rates of health problems and risk of jail. It offers better financial
stability and socio-emotional well-being during adulthood.
- School can affect attendance, academics,
learning, graduation, social relationships, behavior, and mental health.
Neighborhoods
- Adolescents
in distressed neighborhoods are at risk for exposure to violence. Negative
outcomes include poor physical and mental health, delinquency, and risky sexual
behavior.
You will find a
lot of great websites with tools and information to help you get healthy and
stay healthy.
Some examples can
be found on the following websites:
Always check with
an adult to be sure the website is real and safe.
Most important -
have a caring and trusted adult in your life. This can be a parent, a
relative, a teacher, a neighbor, or any adult that you trust. Young people who
have support will connect with their community. They will connect with
school and learning. They lead healthier lives.
For more
information, please contact us at:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Maternal & Child Health
PO Box 149347, Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78714-9347
(512) 776-7373: Phone
(512) 458-7658: Fax
TitleV@dshs.texas.gov
External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not
have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These
external links may not be accessible to persons with disabilities. For more
information about Maternal and Child Health or information regarding adolescent
health in Texas, please email TitleV@dshs.texas.gov or call (512) 776-7373.