1. Promoting equal access to adolescent mental health care
21st European Regional IAAH Conference 2018
Dr Ann Hagell
Association for Young People’s Health, London
@AYPHcharity
@IAAHglobal
#IAAHmoldova18

2. Mental health is a huge issue for this age group but resources are very limited

4. Why are health inequalities important in adolescence?
Social inequalities can lead to health inequalities, and can ‘set in’ during adolescence
Health inequalities occur across the whole life course
BUT LESS attention looking at inequalities in young people
Widening inequalities amongst adolescents in high-income countries
Trends alarming for future population health
Majority of inequalities preventable
Frank J Elgar, Timo-Kolja Pförtner, Irene Moor, Bart De Clercq, Gonneke W J M Stevens, Candace Currie. Socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health 2002–2010: a time-series analysis of 34 countries participating in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. The Lancet, 2015; DOI: /S (14)

5. Low income is the most salient social disadvantage…
Young people are disproportionately represented in families with lower levels of income
1 in 4 young people lived in households with less than 60% of UK’s median income

6. Low income is correlated with mental health problems

7. Other vulnerable groups
Children in state care
Young carers
Black and ethnic minority groups
Young people with learning disabilities
Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transsexual young people

8. Young carers Often hidden and do not receive support
Risk of missing out on education, social opportunities and carry emotional burden
68% report being bullied at school
1.5X more likely to have a special educational need or disability
38% reported having a mental health problem

9. Black and ethnic minority groups

10. LGBT+ 2x more likely to have history of cigarette smoking
More likely to report recreational drug use
Sexual health inequalities – teenage pregnancy, sex education and cervical cancer screening

11. Ways to improve adolescent mental health inequalities
Understand the needs of the local adolescent population (good data)
Proactive support to marginalised groups
Parenting support for parents of young people
Helping schools and colleges to help
Supporting growth of a strong charity sector
Skilling up workforce
Young people’s participation, engagement and co-production – youth friendly services

12. Youth-friendly health services – the importance of youth participation
@AYPHcharity
@IAAHglobal
#IAAHmoldova18

13. Main messages
Mental health shows clear health inequalities even in countries with good access to health services
Inequalities can be driven by deprivation, but also by life circumstances
Health inequalities do not occur in silos and therefore should not be tackled in isolation
There are things we can do – improving access, targeting services, and listening to young people

14. Key messages for parents about adolescent development
@AYPHcharity
@IAAHglobal
#IAAHmoldova18

15. Thank you! www.youngpeopleshealth.org.uk ann@youngpeopleshealth.org.uk
@AYPHcharity