Health means more to teenagers than booze, sex and drugs
11 May 2008
That's the opinion of young people speaking at a conference on health in school at the Institute of Education on May 14.
Health means more to young people than smoking, alcohol, healthy eating, sex and drugs – it means being happy, feeling good, having fun and doing things with friends. That's the opinion of young people speaking at a conference on health in school at the Institute of Education on May 14.
The views of young people will be drawn upon throughout the conference. Andrew Bengry-Howell from Bath University will discuss recent research showing that young people rarely consider the consequences when drinking alcohol. Some young people view getting drunk as a relatively risk-free activity, since they tend to have strategies in place to ensure individual safety. These include drinking in groups, staying away from certain venues and designating someone to stay sober to drive the others home. They are, however, particularly concerned about the short-term effects of drink, such as sickness or memory loss.
Ian Warwick from the Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education will present research showing that when schools take active steps to tackle homophobia, this can have a positive impact on many pupils – not only those who are lesbian and gay. Ian Warwick says: "Many people appear to benefit from anti-homophobia policies and practices in schools – as these complement other strategies that encourage pupils to take a stand against bullying and also help to make the school an inclusive place for all pupils and staff."
Elaine Chase and Abigail Knight from the Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education will discuss their work on the emotional health and well-being of unaccompanied young people seeking asylum and how schools might more effectively address the emotional needs of this particular group of young people. "If schools can harness the enormous personal resources and resilience of these remarkable young people, they will help to minimise the impact of negative experiences on their emotional wellbeing," says Elaine Chase.
The conference will also include presentations on physical activity, sex and relationships education in primary schools, the mental health of young people, and the role of school nurses.
The conference takes place at the Institute of Education on 14th May 2008.
Notes for editors
For more information about the conference, click here.
Further information from Helen Green, press officer, +44 (0)20 7612 6459, h.green@ioe.ac.uk or Jenny Hogg, +44 (0)20 7612 6944, j.hogg@ioe.ac.uk.
The Institute of Education is a college of the University of London, specialising in teaching, research and consultancy in education and related areas of social science and professional practice. The Thomas Coram Research Unit, part of the Institute, carries out research into children and young people both within and outside their families.