Teen health checks launched in Kirklees

Jul 6 2009 by Anne-Marie Senior, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The web-based project is designed to raise awareness of risk-taking behaviour and to signpost youngsters to further sources of support and advice.

It is also there to support behaviour change and set health improvement goals.

The Department of Health scheme was launched nationally in June and will include online advertising.

The scheme will be introduced in Huddersfield on July 9 by local health service providers NHS Kirklees. Pupils from Netherhall are among the first being invited to complete the questionnaire and receive feedback about health.

They will also receive Teen LifeCheck goody bags containing badges, pens, bookmarks and wristbands.

Kirklees project officer Joanne Gould has been put in post to help roll out the scheme across Kirklees.

She will be visiting schools and youth organisations as part of the project to get them to take part.

She will also be distributing goody bags to young people to help promote the initiative.

The LifeCheck programme is based on a commitment in the 2006 Government white paper called Our Health, Our Care, Our Say, which aims to develop three NHS LifeChecks for early years, adolescent and mid-life.

The Department of Health has been working with partners including health and social care professionals, academic researchers, stakeholders, experts and the public to develop these three NHS LifeChecks.

For more information about NHS LifeCheck visit www.nhs.uk/lifecheck.