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NOTHING ABOUT THEM WITHOUT THEM! INTERNATIONAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK: FOR AND BY ADOLESCENTS By Laura A. Offutt MD, FACP
“I believe that teenagers require different health education than other age groups, and I want people to understand what issues, unique to our generation, teenagers are dealing with socially, mentally, and physically.” Lauren, 16, Souderton Area High School. March brings spring and International Adolescent Health Week (IAHW). This month, communities all over the world will be participating in this annual health campaign consisting of dynamic participatory events to inspire adolescents and their communities to advocate for a successful transition into adulthood. Initiated as “Pennsylvania Teen Health Week” in 2016, and observed globally since 2018, IAHW engages adolescents through health-related activities and education, but also importantly, is shaped by local and international youth leaders. “I think that teen health should be a bigger priority in our health system.” Christopher, 16, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Each year, Penn Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine (PAYAM) in Radnor, has spearheaded IAHW community activities in the Delaware Valley along with local youth volunteers and honoring Philadelphia metropolitan area students as Teen Health Champions. This year, PAYAM is working with a group of teens from a dozen local school to imagine and plan this year’s PAYAM IAHW event. The new Teen Advisory Council (TAC) was created to encourage youth involvement as adolescent health advocates and to serve as liaisons with area youth. This group of teens advises PAYAM and advocates for their peers through a
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variety of projects. They have shared what they consider features of an “ideal adolescent medicine practice” which PAYAM is using to self-assess and incorporate; they are creating a peer-to-peer Teen Health PSA about a topic of their choosing; and they are community IAHW peer advocates through their special IAHW teen health event. “I joined the Penn Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Teen Advisory Council because it’s important to have good representation when it comes to making decisions about teen health, and I want to keep informing people about taking the mental and physical steps towards being healthy.” Madisen, 16, Downingtown East High School This year, due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, the advisors were charged with imagining a physically distant or virtual event. After some energetic brainstorming for adolescent health events that would be engaging and fun for young people, the TAC narrowed their ideas to four final propsals: a healthy cooking / nutrition class, a meditation and yoga class (perhaps with a goat!), an event featuring a celebrity speaking about their mental health experience, and an orienteering hunt with health related activity stations. Determined by a vote, it was settled that the TAC would host a virtual cooking class for teens. PAYAM has partnered with the Vetri Community Partnership, who will lead a hands-on workshop with a focus on recipes that are nutritious, economical, and make teens feel good inside and out. Teens will learn simple culinary techniques, discuss nutrition and wellness, and learn how to navigate convenience foods, and to celebrate
