Why Key Data matters

1. Why Key Data matters John Coleman, Chair of AYPH

2. Introduction • Acknowledgement of achievements • Acknowledgements of support from ChiMat, FPSA, and from all the team • A word about TSA and its role in the collection and publication of data on adolescence

3. Why data matters • It may seem obvious, but in the current political climate, this has to be identified as a key concern • Without data we unable to identify the needs of different populations • Without data we cannot plan services • Without data we cannot look forward and develop public and preventative health measures

4. Why data on young people matters • There are three major concerns in relation to young people • First, a failure to properly identify the differences between children and young people • Second, a negative stereotype as far as health behaviour is concerned • Third, a lack of awareness of service uptake by young people

5. What questions do we ask of data? • In preparing and planning Key Data we concentrated on three main questions • First, time trends • Second, individual differences, e.g. age, gender, race and other variables • Third, regional and national differences

6. Where are the gaps? • Although many achievements to be celebrated today, there is much that is lacking • Data is still collected in a random and seemingly unplanned manner • Not enough notice taken of this particular age group • Uncertainty as to where the age boundaries of the group lie • Many areas of young people’s health still badly served

7. Where next? • Ask ourselves what we can do to encourage better data collection • Work to protect the agencies that we have now • Raise the profile of young people’s health, and argue for better professional education about adolescence • Help us to ensure that Key Data and the HBSC are able to continue, and thus contribute to a national debate about young people’s health.