Question

What are the common health needs of adolescents?

Answer 1

Adolescents need support to manage the physical, mental, emotional and social changes of the transition from childhood to adulthood. Their common health needs include:

1. Nutrition and healthy growth: Guidance to prevent malnutrition and obesity, and reliable information about bodily growth and development.
2. Mental and emotional support: Counselling and help in coping with stress, tension, doubts, changing emotions and mental-health concerns.
3. Guidance on relationships and peer pressure: Support in developing independence and self-identity, making safe choices and handling peer influence positively.
4. Prevention of harmful and risky behaviours: Guidance to avoid tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, high-risk sexual behaviour, violence and injuries.
5. Accessible healthcare and reliable information: Adolescent-friendly services that offer sensitive advice, treatment, privacy and confidentiality.
6. Support with emerging concerns: Help in dealing with excessive internet or social-media use, depression and self-harm risks.

Timely guidance from trusted adults, trained health workers and peer educators can help adolescents pass through this stage safely and confidently.