Roz Walker

Adolescence is the transition from childhood to adulthood and a crucial time in the development of health-related attitudes and behaviours. This transition time can be a period of high risk taking and habit forming behaviour, with long-term ramifications on young people’s health and wellbeing. Research shows that health compromising attitudes and behaviours exhibited in adulthood are often initiated during adolescence, making this an ideal time for health services, particularly those in schools, to promote universal prevention and early interventions. Recent reports emphasise the need to pay greater attention to young people as they are often either overlooked or blamed in discussions on health and wellbeing.