DL Bennett, MS Reed

Abstract

The health of young people is of major international concern. Almost a third of the world's population (1.5 billion people) is between 10 and 24 years of age, 80 per cent of whom live in developing countries. Changes in the social, political and economic realities throughout the world are having a major and dramatic impact on adolescents and their families. Manifestations of the difficulties they face are occurring with increasing frequency and at enormous cost. In promoting a comprehensive and shared response to the contemporary health problems of young people, health professionals face a collaborative challenge: to look beyond the obvious in their clinical dealings with young people; to connect with the family and invite them into partnerships in care; to create alliances for health via innovative, interdisciplinary teamwork; and to broaden the horizons of advocacy at local and international levels.