Information for Health Professionals

The second Youth2000 survey in 2007 provided further self-reported information on how 9,107 secondary school students from throughout New Zealand, regarded their health and wellbeing. The following are a few key results from the 2007 survey but for more detailed information please go to Publications

92% of students reported that their health was excellent, very good or good - a result that had not changed since 2001
Approximately a third of secondary school students were either overweight or obese based on measurements taken to calculate each student's body mass index
While there had been a marked improvement in students' emotional wellbeing and associated behaviours since 2001, in 2007 15% of female students and 7% of male students reported symptoms of depression that warranted help from a health professional
17% of students indicated that they had been unable to access health care when they needed to at some time in the last 12 months
Of students who had accessed health care in the last 12 months, 36% had got to talk to a health provider in private and 46% were assured that their consultation was confidential
92% of students had seen a dentist or health worker in the last 2 years
32% of students reported that they had ever tried smoking cigarettes, down from 52% in 2001. Similarly, in 2007 8% reported smoking weekly - down from 16% in 2001
In 2007 72% of students had tried alcohol and 61% currently drank alcohol
The proportion of students who had witnessed adults physically hitting or hurting other adults at home in the last 12 months had increased from 6% in 2001 to 10% in 2007.

Key messages the Youthline Youth Advisory Council wanted professionals working with young people to know from the survey results:

Recognise that relationships young people have at home are important and that young people are affected by the relationships they have with their parents

To make it possible for young people to see a doctor without their parents being around they should have an annual checkup, preferably through school. This would enable young people to have the opportunity to raise other issues in private
Professionals should have training in interacting with young people so that they can be more aware of how their attitudes can affect a young person
Resources should be developed for professionals on how to approach young people regarding family violence - particularly around the language they use as they are often uncomfortable with the topic and young people know this from what they say (or don't say) and their body langauge.