Unit 1: AOS 2 - Youth Health and Wellbeing (Health Inequalities, Risk and Protective Factors) ) Flashcards
Define ‘health issue’?
Something that is of a concern or a problem due to its impact on health.
What are some health issues for Australian youth?
- Safety
- Gambling
- Alcohol and other drugs
- Smoking/Vaping
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Relationships and Sexuality
Most important issues in Australia today?
- The Environment
- Equity and discrimination
- Mental Health
What is ‘Burden of Disease’?
- Burden of disease is a measure of the impact of diseases and injuries
- Burden of disease is the measurement of the health gap – between the actual health of a population and the ideal situation where everyone lives to an old age.
What are some risks and protective factors for youth health?
- Culture
- Socioeconomic status
- Media
- Political structures
- Social inclusion
- Psychological factors (stress, trauma)
- Health behaviors (tobacco use, vaping, alcohol)
- Food security
- Family
- Employment
- Health literacy
Define ‘health inequalities’?
Unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups within society.
What are some health inequalities that may exist between youth and older adults?
Youth experince a:
- Greater prevalence of injuries (including suicide & self-inflicted injuries, road traffic injuries and poisoning).
- Greater prevalence of mental and substance use disorders (drug and alcohol use disorders.
- Greater morbidity associated with depressive disorders and anxiety disorders.
What are some youth health inequalities?
- Discrimination
- Stress
- Sexual health
- Injury
- Alcohol use
- Illicit drug use
- Smoking
- Weight issues
Define ‘health action’?
- Health action is behaviour change where health-compromising behaviours are replaced by health-enhancing behaviours.
- The intention is to create better health outcomes.
What can health action look like?
Health action can involve:
- an individual making changes to diet and physical activity routines, giving up smoking or vaping, and improving mental health by reducing stress and improving sleep habits
- programs, laws and regulations by governments and health organisations on behalf of young people.
Define ‘alcohol’?
- Alcohol is a depressant drug.
What does a ‘depressant’ do?
Depressants slow down the messages travelling between the brain and body
What are some short term effects of alcohol?
- reduce alertness and concentration
- reduce coordination skills and problem-solving ability
- promote risk-taking behaviours
- less able to identify hazards and dangers
- lower levels of self-control
- higher rates of injury (cuts, concussion, violence, death)
What are some long term effects of alcohol?
- binge drinking impacts memory, the ability to learn and verbal skills
- increase the risk of alcohol-related problems later in life, such as alcohol dependence
- mental health problems including depression, self-harm and suicide
What are some contributing factors to alcohol use in youth?
- Australian drinking culture
- Peer pressure
- Role models drink: create image that it’s a socially desirable thing to do
What are ‘illicit drugs’?
‘Illicit use of drugs’ covers the use of a broad range of substances, including:
1. illegal drugs (e.g. cannabis , cocaine, heroin)
2. pharmaceuticals (e.g. drugs available from a pharmacy, over-the-counter or by prescription)
3. other psychoactive substances (legal or illegal, potentially used in a harmful way—for example petrol, paint or glue )
What are ‘licit’ drugs?
- The word licit means “within the law”.
- In other words, anything that is licit is allowed or legal.
- Licit drugs include alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
What does ‘smoking’ look like in youth?
- Youth is a critical time in the development of tobacco addiction.
- Those who do not smoke during youth are less likely to smoke later in life.
- E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid to deliver vapour that can contain nicotine.
What is ‘sexual health’?
- Sexual health is not only about sexually transmitted infections but also about sexual relationships, safety and respect.
- Youth is often a time of sexual exploration.
What is an ‘STI’?
- Sexually transmissible infections (STIs)
- STIs pass from one person to another through sexual contact.
- This includes oral, genital and anal sex.
What is ‘mental health and wellbeing’?
Mental health and wellbeing relates to the current state of wellbeing of the mind or brain, and includes the ability to think and process information.
What is ‘stress’?
- A response to pressure or a threat
- The stress response is a physical one: a surge of a hormone called adrenaline temporarily affects the nervous system.
- Stress may contribute to poor physical health and wellbeing, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, increased risk of infection and chronic fatigue.
- Extended periods of stress can lead to more serious psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety.
What is ‘anxiety’?
- Uneasy mental state
- A concern over having a lack of control over circumstances.
- Incorporates both the emotions and the physical sensations.
- May involve a racing heart, shaking and difficulty breathing.
What is ‘depression’?
- Extreme feelings of hopelessness, sadness, isolation, worry, withdrawal and worthlessness that last for a prolonged period and interfere with normal activities.
