Together for Health: Why Standing with Science Means Standing with Youth Voice by Hannah

This month sees a number of different national days to honour all parts of our society, from April Fools’ Day and National Living Donor Day to National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day and even National Unicorn Day – who knew such things existed!

But one of the most important is marked on 7^th April, which sees World Health Day recognise this year’s theme of “Together for health. Stand with Science”. When I first saw this title, I thought it was just a call to action for science laboratories and research trials to gather evidence and gain knowledge, but “standing with science” can mean something much more for both young people and those within the youth voice sector and youth experience can serve as that much needed ‘evidence’.

“Standing with science” means supporting outcomes and supporting outcomes means not only funding research, but shaping it. Whilst I am not expecting everyone to be a scientific whizz, we can all see healthcare not just from the treatment side but from the design side. Co-design consistently sees the best health outcomes, and we can all help to shape processes and care through our own lived experiences.

For young people the world of healthcare can be intimidating and confusing – a place far removed from normal life for many. But the definition of health is changing. Particularly for young people as the world we live in changes, to be healthy is no longer as black and white as healthy or sick. It isn’t just eating your 5-a-day and a gym membership, the idea of being healthy now covers a holistic view of physical health, mental resilience, digital boundaries in an always-on world and sensory environments that respect everyone’s differences. Science shows that physical and psychological safety contribute just as much to your body’s ability to function than just eating the right things, exercising and getting enough sleep.

“Standing with science” means acknowledging that if diagnoses only work for 'typical' profiles, the science isn't robust. If it doesn't account for neurodiversity and physical differences, then the system needs to change. We need to acknowledge that just because that is the way things have always been or that is what is know currently, doesn’t mean that is the way it should always be done and that we aren’t going to learn anything more.

This year’s theme asks us to come together and unite, but that isn’t always easy in a healthcare system that leaves many young people to fall through the gaps. Accessibility remains an issue, whether that is sensory friendly design, accessible communication or marginalised backgrounds that leave many young people unable to access the system or lacking trust in the systems due to previous bad experiences, which is a barrier no treatment or medicine can be a simple fix for. Young people continue to fall through the gaps as they transition from paediatric services to adult provisions, highlighting just one of the challenges with uniting in healthcare.

Including young people in the co-design of health care and the science of care practices could be instrumental in creating meaningful, positive and long-lasting change. Young people are often more receptive to change, to noticing what doesn’t work and suggesting a solution that targets the problems as they occur. Our opinions are very easily overlooked in healthcare settings, thinking young people have less need for healthcare provisions, are too hard to access or lack experience. This is a mistake. There are thousands of young people ready to make an impact if they are simply given the chance.

This World Health Day, let's stop treating youth voice as an 'extra' and start recognising it as the essential evidence base, we need to truly stand with science and to shape a system that works for everyone.