Health News Summary 14 July 2008
14 Jul 2008
Chief Medical Officer calls for focus on teenage Health and Brook and fpa call for compulsory SRE.
Healthy Lifestyle
Also of interest...
National ‘Playday’ theme announced
Hundreds of play events are planned to take place on 6 August in an attempt to highlight the decline of adventurous play opportunities for children and young people. The theme of this year's national Playday is ‘Give us a go!’ and organiser Play England says the theme aims to show children need to participate in challenging activities so they are better able to manage risk in their daily lives. Playday website >>
Healthy Relationships and Sex
Health services needed closer to home
Health minister Lord Darzi's NHS review Quality Care for All, NHS Next Stage Review Final Report has been published. The report found that families should have access to health services closer to home and in a community setting. The report sets out plans for pilots of more integrated services that would bring together health and social care professionals. In addition, it outlined six key health goals for the NHS in England: tackling obesity; reducing harm from alcohol; treating drug addiction; reducing smoking; improving sexual health; and better mental health care. DH press release >> (links to report)
Joint call for compulsory SRE
Brook and fpa have made a joint call for compulsory SRE in schools from the age of four. In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Simon Blake, chief executive of Brook, and Julie Bentley, fpa chief executive argued that a gradual introduction of SRE from an early age will help to reduce pregnancies, abortions and sexually transmitted infections among teenagers. Both stressed that as well as the names of body parts, younger children should be taught about emotions and relationships. BBC article >>
Brook press release >>
Alcohol and Substance Use
Skunk 'psychosis risk' warning
People who smoke the strongest form of cannabis - known as skunk - may be more at risk of psychosis than those who use milder forms, UK researchers claim. In a study of 300 people, those who had suffered an episode of psychosis were 18 times more likely to have smoked skunk than other cannabis users. A Royal College of Psychiatrists meeting heard they were also more likely to use cannabis every day. But experts urged caution over the interpretation of the findings. BBC article >>
No alcohol for young drivers call
The legal blood alcohol limit should be reduced to zero in England for drivers aged 17 to 20, the country's chief medical officer has urged. Sir Liam Donaldson said in his annual report that although there was a risk the move would be unpopular among young people, it would improve road safety. Government transport statistics show more than 14 young drivers and their passengers die every week in Britain. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. BBC article >>
Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
Minister hails mental health service success
Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis has congratulated the NHS on major improvements in key mental health services. In terms of young people’s mental health services, latest figures show that, in 2007-08, early intervention teams treated 8,300 young people who experienced a first episode of psychosis, a 27% increase on 2006-7. DH press release >>
Girl guides' warning on self-harm
Girl guides' leaders are warning that girls face sexual and consumer pressures to grow up too soon and many see self-harm as "normal behaviour". Girlguiding UK says that these pressures of "premature sexualisation" and materialism can lead to bullying. Its warning is based on the results of an online survey of girl guides aged between 10 and 14. Chief Guide Liz Burnley warned that too many girls now experienced "stress, anxiety and unhappiness". A report from Girlguiding UK, A Generation Under Stress?, published in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, reveals a generation who feel they are being forced to grow up too quickly.
BBC Article >>
Children and Young People’s Services
Medical chief calls for focus on ‘teenage health’
The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has published his 2007 Annual Report, in which he called for a new focus on teenage health. The report, which reviews key health problems and developments over the last year, highlighted the unique health needs of young people, and urged health services to take better account of the specific needs of young people. DH press release >>
Chief Medical Officers report web page >>
Luton improves sexual health services for young people
Children and Young People Now (CYPN) reports on a new health service for young people in Luton, offering contraception and advice on sexually transmitted diseases. The service was commissioned by Luton Teaching Primary Care Trust and will separate sexual health provision into services for under and over 25s. The new service has been set up after a review found there were issues surrounding teenage pregnancy and that more services needed to be focused on young people. CYPN article >>
Newham Young People's Sexual Health Steering Group – advice wanted
Shine, Newham's sexual health service for young people aged 24 and under, is co-ordinating a Young People's Sexual Health Steering Group. The project hopes that this group of young people will be involved in making decisions and developing projects around sexual health. The project would like to hear from others who have coordinated a similar steering group to find out what worked and what didn't. If you are able to contribute please email Tamera Howard >>
YW4H Team latest
It was 20 years ago….
Roger Morford, Information Officer for the YW4H team, will be putting on his walking boots and 20 years to the week after the original venture, will retrace the 50 mile route of his gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition to raise money for charity. His target is to raise £500 for the Youth Hostel Association’s ’Breaks for Kids’ charity. This gives disadvantaged children and young people opportunities to enjoy the benefits of social, recreational and educational activities at YHA centres. Visit Roger’s Just Giving web page for more information.
Parliamentary Issues
Binge Drinking
Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe responded to a question by Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle on the adequacy of the measures in the Licensing Act 2003 in combating binge drinking. The Minister mentioned the recent Youth Alcohol Action Plan and said that the government also expects to consider further action when the ongoing Alcohol Price, Promotion and Harm review reports this summer. Hansard source >>
Events/Training
Alcohol Concern Annual Conference and AGM
Localism: Friend or Foe – How does national alcohol policy translate at the local level?
Wednesday 3 December 2008
Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State for Public Health, is confirmed as the Keynote Speaker at Alcohol Concern’s Annual Conference, which will consider the challenges in delivering national alcohol policy at the local level and will explore examples of local good practice.
To register for further details, please email: mailto:conference@alcoholconcern.org.uk%20%3E%3E
Re-Solv
Free training on solvent abuse
Re-Solv is offering a free course on solvent abuse for professionals working with young people, supported by a grant from PPP Healthcare Medical Trust. It takes approximately three to six hours to complete and includes training documents, a series of assignments, online tests, surveys and case studies. Upon satisfactory completion, participants are sent a certificate.
To register visit the Re-Solv website >>
Resources
Think Research
The Cabinet Office's Social Exclusion Task Force has published ‘Think Research’, a web-based document which gives commissioners and providers of services for vulnerable people guidance on using research evidence during the commissioning process. The guide covers different aspects of using research evidence including finding relevant research, evaluating it, how to use the evidence in planning a service, and gathering evidence for monitoring once a service is up and running. Cabinet Office press release >>
The Food Vision project
The government’s Food Vision initiative aims to create projects that deliver healthy, nutritious and sustainable food that improves the health of local people. The website acts as an information portal for local councils, primary care trusts and others interested parties in the health sector. Food Vision website >>
Database of drug treatment services - Drugscope
Helpfinder is DrugScope's database of drug treatment services. It provides contact information and basic service provision details for drug treatment and care services in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Helpfinder webpages >>
Sexual Health Week 4 -10 August 2008
fpa's Sexual Health Week is supporting the sexual health needs of people with learning disabilities. As part of the week, fpa will be sending out free campaign packs of information, leaflets, posters and banners to help practitioners run events and support the week. To order a campaign pack email Justin Martin >> or call 020 7608 5256. Sexual Health Week web page >>
Safe Practice in Physical Education and School Sport
The 2008 edition of 'Safe Practice' is a guide to health and safety in physical education and school sport. The 2008 edition has been completely updated and re-written and copies can be pre-ordered.
Further information >>
PSHE Association Briefing - Youth Alcohol Action Plan
The PSHE Association has published a briefing paper on the recent Youth Alcohol Action Plan published jointly by the DCSF, DH and the Home Office in June 2008. PSHE Association briefing >>
Consultations
Schools’ role in promoting pupil wellbeing
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has launched a consultation on draft guidance for schools’ role in promoting pupil wellbeing. The consultation considers what support schools can expect from their local authority and other partners in the children’s trust and offers practical examples of ways in which schools can contribute to well-being. The deadline for responses is 25 September 2008.
DCSF press release >>
Sex Education Forum response >>
Lottery Funding - Sports Consultation
Funding sport in your community – Have your say
Sport England has launched a public consultation on how it distributes Lottery funding to support community sport. This consultation is an opportunity to influence the distribution of £45 million of National Lottery funding per year for the future of sport. The deadline for responses is 16 September. Further information >>
Mental Health Foundation/Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Right Here: Promoting young people's mental health and well-being
The Mental Health Foundation and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation are calling for examples of service and provision for promoting mental health and wellbeing among young people aged 16 to 25. The call for evidence will provide information to map the work of key sectors in addressing the mental health needs of young people in generic or universal settings. This information will be used to create an extensive database of the broad range of services and activities available throughout the UK to promote young people's mental health and wellbeing. To complete the call for evidence, which will take approximately 10 minutes, please visit the link below. The deadline for submissions is 21 July. Further information >>
Learning for Well-being
Young NCB has been working on Wellbeing and PSHE. It has produced a poster and is asking for young people’s views on the subject on Young NCB’s ‘Your Shout’ web page. Young NCB ‘Your Shout’ webpage >>
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