Health in adolescence.
This paper briefly describes some recent publications on adolescent health, one of which advocates the establishment of a database on adolescent health, and then discusses what the author considers to be the three most important adolescent health problems, namely unintentional injuries, asthma and mental health disorders. While considerable research into injuries and asthma are already being planned or carried out, this is not the case for adolescent mental health disorders. Adolescent physical and sensory disabilities, health risks and health promotion are briefly discussed in terms of research needs. The nature and prevalence of adolescent mental health problems are then discussed as well as some influences on adolescent development and mental health. Finally, it is argued that two types of research into adolescent mental health disorders are needed (basic and programme development and evaluation). It is recommended that the Medical Research Council sponsor a seminar on mental health research needs and consider the possibility of adopting more active strategies to promote research into mental health, including the mental health of adolescents.
Silva
P A
PA
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
D000293:Adolescent; D000295:Adolescent Medicine; D002662:Child Health Services; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D001523:Mental Disorders; D009520:New Zealand; D012106:Research