Youth health service mooted

A free health service, open after school and Saturdays, which offers confidential advice on issues such as sexual health and counselling for family and personal issues, is on the wish list of young Wairarapa people.
The health service proposal was identified as a priority as part of a survey in which 131 young people were interviewed by the Wairarapa District Health Board during October to assess the needs of what young people want from a health service.
It's also part of the process towards writing a Youth Health Strategy for Wairarapa.
The survey was conducted on the board's website with 131 students responding, predominantly females.
In a report to the board's community and public health advisory health committee it was stated that the respondents demonstrated a high level of awareness of the issues surrounding their own health and well-being but also indicated that there were barriers to actually doing something about these things.
Some of these perceived barriers identified in the survey include concerns about being embarrassed when seeking contraceptive advice, the cost of services and products, in particular condoms, and the risk that confidentiality may be threatened.
These local concerns were in line with similar comments made by young people in other parts of the country.
As part of the earlier information-gathering phase, Youth Advisory Group members researched other studies in New Zealand.
The report said it was reassuring to note that these early findings increased the group's level of confidence to incorporate findings from national strategies and approaches into youth service planning in Wairarapa.
The youth health concept is not new. Several other areas already have specialist services for young people. Local Youth Advisory Group members have visited three health centres in other areas ? Youth One Stop Shop, in Palmerston North, Evolve, in Wellington city and Hutt Valley Health Service, in Lower Hutt.
The next stage is to establish a small steering group which will work more closely with the board's planning and funding staff to develop a consultation document.
The strategy is expected to be presented to the board in May 2005.