Briefing 02: Mortality in children and young people in the East of England

The current trend in infant mortality in the East compared with the UK as a whole, the contribution of different causes to the total number of deaths, and PCT-specific information on 8 years of combined data.

Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain, 2004

This report first describes the prevalence of mental disorders among 5- to 16-year olds in 2004 and notes any changes since the previous survey in 1999. It then provides profiles of children in each of the main disorder categories (emotional, conduct, hyperkinetic and autistic spectrum disorders) and , where the sample size permits, profiles subgroups within these categories.

Peer pressure and alcohol use in young men: a mediation analysis of drinking motives.

BACKGROUND: Peer pressure (PP) has been shown to play a major role in the development and continuation of alcohol use and misuse. To date, almost all the studies investigating the association of PP with alcohol use only considered the PP for misconduct but largely ignored other aspects of PP, such as pressure for peer involvement and peer conformity. Moreover, it is not clear whether the association of PP with alcohol use is direct or mediated by other factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of different aspects of peer pressure (PP) with drinking volume (DV) and risky single-occasion drinking (RSOD), and to explore whether these associations were mediated by drinking motives (DM). METHODS: A representative sample of 5521 young Swiss men, aged around 20 years old, completed a questionnaire assessing their usual weekly DV, the frequency of RSOD, DM (i.e. enhancement, social, coping, and conformity motives), and 3 aspects of PP (i.e. misconduct, peer involvement, and peer conformity). Associations between PP and alcohol outcomes (DV and RSOD) as well as the mediation of DM were tested using structural equation models. RESULTS: Peer pressure to misconduct was associated with more alcohol use, whereas peer involvement and peer conformity were associated with less alcohol use. Associations of drinking outcomes with PP to misconduct and peer involvement were partially mediated by enhancement and coping motives, while the association with peer conformity was partially mediated by enhancement and conformity motives. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that PP to misconduct constitutes a risk factor, while peer conformity and peer involvement reflect protective factors with regard to alcohol use. Moreover, results from the mediation analyses suggest that part of the association of PP with alcohol use came indirectly through DM: PP was associated with DM, which in turn were associated with alcohol use.

The Health and Well-Being of Children and Young People in South East England 2005 (report)

A compendium of facts and figures on the health status and the determinants of the health of children and young people in South East England

Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 Report on the Consultation with Young People

The Department of Education and Skills is developing a new Digital Strategy for Schools to be completed during 2015. The Digital Strategy for Schools will set out how Department of Education and Skills’ priorities can be delivered and facilitated by the use of technology in education. The development of the Strategy is of critical importance to Ireland if it is to realise the potential of ICT in schools and prepare our young people to live, learn and work in the 21st century. The Department of Education and Skills has partnered with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) to seek the views of young people through a structured consultation process informed by DCYA expertise in consulting with young people.

Framework for Junior Cycle - Full Report

The Framework for Junior Cycle (The Framework) was published in October 2012. It is based on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s advice to the Department as set out in Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle (November 2011) and on research into education for our young people aged 12 to 15 / 16 years. The Framework document can be downloaded from www.education.ie and www.ncca. The mission of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) is “to enable learners to achieve their full potential and contribute to Ireland’s economic, social and cultural development”. By placing students at the centre of the educational experience, the DES wants to ensure that junior cycle education will improve learning experiences and outcomes. The implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle will enable post-primary schools to provide a quality, inclusive and relevant education with improved learning outcomes for all students, including those with special educational needs

Investing Effectively in Information and Communication Technology in Schools, 2008-2013

Learning is changing. A pivotal force in bringing about this change is the use of information and communications technology (ICT) which provides richer, more immediate, world-relevant educational resources and opportunities. When used well, ICT enriches learning and enhances teaching. It invigorates classroom activities and is a powerful motivational tool that encourages learners to progress in more personalised and self-directed ways. Ireland has achieved rapid change and growth in the past decade, but to sustain this we must prepare the next generation for the knowledge society in which they will live. The challenge we face is to ensure that the emphasis on ICT in schools shifts, in the immediate future, from technology provision to a focus on its deliberate use by the learner. Fostering personal creativity has always been a desirable educational value. The pursuit of creativity and inventiveness are now pivotal skills in a knowledge economy and the embedding of ICT in learning can greatly facilitate their development. Web 2.0 will facilitate greater interactivity and enable greater levels of user-generated content. It is crucial that young people acquire the ICT and related skills to support these new opportunities.

Providing meaningful care: using the experiences of young suicidal men to inform mental health care services

A short report using the experiences of young suicidal men to inform mental health care services.�

Effect of sodium loading/depletion on renal oxygenation in young normotensive and hypertensive men

Rapport de synthèse:Le but de cette étude était d'investiguer pour la première fois chez l'homme l'effet du sodium alimentaire et de l'hypertension artérielle sur l'oxygénation tissulaire par une technique spéciale d'imagerie à résonance magnétique nommée 'BOLD-IRM' (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent-IRM). Le BOLD-IRM est une technique nouvelle qui permet de mesurer la bio disponibilité tissulaire d'oxygène de façon non-invasive chez l'homme, en utilisant le déoxyhémoglobine comme produit de contraste endogène.Le rational de cette étude était double. Premièrement, des changements dans l'apport sodique alimentaire devraient théoriquement influencer l'oxygénation tissulaire rénale, étant donné que la réabsorption tubulaire du sodium est un transport actif nécessitant de l'énergie et de l'oxygène. Deuxièmement, des études chez l'animal suggèrent une rôle possible de l'hypoxie tissulaire dans le développement de la néphropathie hypertensive.Nous avons déterminé l'oxygénation rénale avec le BOLD-IRM chez dix hommes normo tendus (âgés de 26.5±7.4 ans) et huit hommes hypertendus non-traités (âgés de 28.8±5.7 ans) une semaine après un régime riche en sel (>200 mmol/jour), et de nouveau une semaine après un régime pauvre en sel (<100 mmol/jour). En parallèle, nous avons mesuré la clearance de l'inuline, du p- aminohippurate (PAH) et du lithium endogène, afin de déterminer respectivement la filtration glomérulaire, le flux sanguin rénal et le 'renal sodium handling', tous des paramètres ayant la capacité d'influencer la consommation et/ou la disponibilité d'oxygène tissulaire. Nous nous attendions d'une côté à une oxygénation rénale diminuée chez les sujets hypertendus par rapport aux sujets normo tendus, et d'une autre côté à une augmentation de l'oxygénation tissulaire rénale après une semaine de régime pauvre en sel par rapport à la phase d'un régime riche en sel.Nous retenons comme résultat principal une augmentation de l'oxygénation rénale médullaire suite à une restriction sodique par rapport à un régime riche en sel chez tous les participants (normo-et hypertendus). Chez les participants normotendus ces changements correlaient avec des changements dans le transport actif du sodium, et ceci indépendamment du flux sanguin rénal. Contrairement à ce qu'on attendait, l'oxygénation rénale médullaire était plus élevé chez les sujets hypertendus par rapport aux sujets normotendus.En résumé, ces observations offrent possiblement une explication pour les bénéfices rénaux liés à un régime pauvre en sel. En plus, la combinaison d'études de clearance et le BOLD- IRM comme utilisé dans cette étude se sont révélés un outil performant et prometteur qui peut stimuler la recherche dans ce domaine.

Healthy child, health future - Speech and language therapy: Factsheet for parents 2. Helping your young non-fluent child

This factsheet outlines how parents can help their child speak more fluently, without stammering.

Analysis of need in relation to 'one stop shop' services for young people in Northern Ireland

An analysis of need for 'one stop shop' drop-in support services in relation to alcohol and drug misuse, undertaken by the PHA for the Health Development Policy Branch of the DHSSPS Additional information:

"I'll look it up on the Web first": barriers and overcoming barriers to consult for sexual dysfunction among young men.

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: Our aim was to identify the barriers young men face to consult a health professional when they encounter sexual dysfunctions and where they turn to, if so, for answers. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory qualitative research including 12 young men aged 16-20 years old seen in two focus groups. Discussions were triggered through vignettes about sexual dysfunction. RESULTS: Young men preferred not to talk about sexual dysfunction problems with anyone and to solve them alone as it is considered an intimate and embarrassing subject which can negatively impact their masculinity. Confidentiality appeared to be the most important criterion in disclosing an intimate subject to a health professional. Participants raised the problem of males' accessibility to services and lack of reason to consult. Two criteria to address the problem were if it was long-lasting or considered as physical. The Internet was unanimously considered as an initial solution to solve a problem, which could guide them to a face-to-face consultation if necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that Internet-based tools should be developed to become an easy access door to sexual health services for young men. Wherever they consult and for whatever problem, sexual health must be on the agenda.