10 reasons to invest

Why invest in young people’s health?

The UK has 11.6 million young people aged 10-24, making up 18% of the population. AYPH believes it is important to invest in their health for 10 key reasons:

• The years between 10 and 24 are critical for developing longterm conditions and establishing health behaviours
• Young people’s health is not improving enough
• Young people re not getting the health services or information they require
• Health inequalities are already widespread by the time of transition to adulthood, and some are widening
• Positive trends in health behaviour must be supported in order to continue
• Ignoring chronic adolescent disease costs money
• Effects of poor healthcare in adolescence can last a lifetime
• Investing in young people’s wellbeing has benefits beyond health
• Many mental health issues are diagnosed at this age
• Investment in young people maintains and reinforces successful health interventions delivered in early childhood

Click here for a summary PDF version of our briefing, and here for the full references and statistics