Education

Maybe you will smirk when you hear that there’s a strong link between education and health. The higher your education, the less likely you are to suffer from health problems. There are many ways in which the problem of students’ dropping out of schools can be tackled. One of them is providing social‑emotional skills training and counselling to help them graduate. Schools can also provide healthy food and should take steps to prevent bullying in order to provide an environment which is conducive to learning. Another way is helping students with disabilities participate in regular school lessons or university programmes. Any type of intervention which will increase graduation rates and help young people in the world of work will be beneficial for their mental and physical health.

Economic Stability

It’s not easy nowadays to find and keep a well‑paid job. Economic stability can be reached by giving people the opportunity to have good and steady income. Therefore, employment programmes are needed which will help people with career counselling, especially people from low‑income environments and where the unemployment rate is high. Children with at least one parent who has a steady job are less likely to live in poverty. Therefore, single parents need to be taken care of by increasing their employment opportunities and providing care for their children. People who suffer from diseases which limit their ability to work should be taught to manage their condition in order to increase their ability to work and therefore, the capacity to keep a steady job.

Health Care Access and Quality

The best way to prevent diseases is preventive healthcare. There are still disparities around the world in the number of people who have access to screening, testing, and vaccinations. However, even those patients with medical insurance and easy and quick access to healthcare sometimes have to wait for a long time before they are diagnosed. This is caused by an inadequate number of staff, specialists, or hospital beds. So, the solution would be to increase the numbers allowing more people to take advantage of medical services. Effective treatments for substance abuse should also be put in place. A special emphasis should be put on reaching out to people who refuse to be treated or who are afraid to do so.

Neighbourhood and Built Environment

Juvenile delinquents often have problems at school and they are more likely to suffer from health disorders and substance abuse. Preventive programmes should be introduced to reduce the number of crimes committed by young people and as a result, decrease the number of arrests, especially in neighbourhoods with vulnerable inhabitants. It’s also about making neighbourhoods safer places to live by building bike paths or playgrounds for children. The quality of life and health also depends on amenities and unrestricted access to vital information. Every household should also have access to broadband internet, allowing people to get the necessary information and communicate with friends or health services. Town and city councils can also take action to prevent air pollution and provide clean water for inhabitants.

Social and Community Context

Teeneagers who have an adult they can confide in are less prone to exhibit antisocial behaviour. Providing special helplines or centres where young people can discuss their problems is crucial for improving their emotional, mental, and social life. Fostering a positive attitude and atmosphere at home, school, and work can significantly contribute to our personal and as a result, public well‑being. This can be achieved e.g. by reading programmes where parents read to their children as part of their everyday routine.