The Wellbeing Health & Youth NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Adolescent Health (WH&Y CRE) convenes the WH&Y Commission: made up of diverse young people, aged 14-23, who consult with, co-design, co-research and advise researchers, policy-makers, advocacy organisations and services on youth health and wellbeing.

In 2021, the Commission took part in a series of workshops to identify priority youth health concerns and to propose ways for these concerns to be addressed by research, policy and services. Our aim is to inform and achieve more accessible and sustained support for young people’s health and wellbeing – now needed more than ever as we experience the COVID-19 pandemic and in the long-term.

The workshops illuminated the health and wellbeing concerns of diverse young people living in Greater Western Sydney. Their views are informed by their lived experiences, their study, training and work experience in health-related areas and their personal, peer and community struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commissioners’ priorities highlight the urgent need to address short and long-term health and wellbeing concerns of young people - with young people. Commissioners identified the following as:

Health priorities:

1. COVID-19
2. Mental health and eating disorders
3. Sexual health
4. Health ethics in a digital society
5. Environments and products
6. Youth-centred health information and education

Research and policy priorities:

1. Understanding the impact of social determinants of health for young people
2. Address negative and deficit discourses of youth health in policy and professional practice
3. Acknowledge intersectionality and support diversity in health information and professions
4. Ensure access to health services and health information for all young people
5. Advance youth participation in adolescent health research, policy and practice

Principles for addressing youth concerns:

1. Holistic approaches to wellbeing and health
2. Authentic and respectful communication with young people
3. Supporting and growing young people’s autonomy and agency
4. Working respectfully with diversity and promoting inclusiveness
5. Integrative and innovative approaches to health and wellbeing
6. Promote responsiveness, accountability, credibility and transparency

Strategies to address youth health concerns:

1. Create youth partnerships with peer groups, networks, and youth representatives
2. Support intergenerational collaboration and dialogue
3. Focus on excluded or under-served groups
4. Support youth-led solutions that are co-designed and driven by interdisciplinary teams

These workshops highlight a pressing issue that cannot be ignored - the current health information and services for young people are not effectively working for all. Young people call for greater engagement between youth and the policy-makers and researchers who influence their health and wellbeing.