EVERY YOUNG PERSON DESERVES GREAT HEALTH CARE AND INFORMATION, AND TO FEEL MENTALLY STRONG

WHY HEALTH4LIFE?

In adolescence, young people are starting to make their own choices about how they live their lives. These choices and patterns can have impacts on their long-term futures. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of premature deaths and one-third of the total disease burden in adults are associated with conditions or behaviours that began in their youth, including tobacco use, a lack of physical activity, unprotected sex or exposure to violence. In addition, half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start by the age of 14 – however, most cases are undetected and untreated.

Promoting healthy practices during adolescence, and taking steps to better protect young people from health risks is critical.

In our unequal society, it is even more critical that those living closer to the base of the pyramid have lower access to quality youth-friendly health services.

WHAT WE DO

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Life Choices fills this gap by partnering with schools and communities to provide information, counselling and support.

In our Health4Life partner schools we provide HIV counselling and testing, that includes screening for TB, STIs, other non-communicable diseases and a variety of lifestyle risks. Through this, the learner develops their own personalised risk reduction plan. Life Choices staff also provide sexual and reproductive health talks to grade 8 and 9 learners as part of the Life Orientation curriculum, and run broader health campaigns within the school on topics such as bereavement, anxiety or stress, or suicide awareness.

In addition, our Wellness team provide one-on-one and group psychosocial support to learners and staff within the school.

Through this, we aim to offer young people the tools and resources to make informed health decisions, and the support they need to live full and healthy lives.

2020 RESULTS TO DATE

2020 results to date
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