Activity 4.1A
1 Possible brainstorm prompts:
• List a range of health issues and list consequences of health issues.
• Reverse the definitions of ‘health’; for example, not reaching a state of complete physical, social and mental wellbeing, or the presence of illness or disease, a state in which you are not able to function properly.
2 Brainstorm prompts: mental health, asthma, diabetes, injury, food allergies, tobacco smoking, alcohol and illicit substance abuse, sexual and reproductive health issues.
3 • ABS – Key youth issues are addressed via statistics collected on overweight and obesity, mental health, risky drinking, drug use etc.
• AIHW – Key issues are addressed and listed in the publications ‘Making Progress: The Health,
Development and Wellbeing of Australia’s Children and Young People (2008) and Young
Australians: Their Health and Wellbeing 2007 .
• Better Health Channel – Study, relationships, healthy eating, activity and fitness, alcohol and drugs, mental health, specific health issues (e.g. headaches, eye care), sex and sexuality.
• Department of Health – Provides links to above websites. Does not feature specific youth issues.
• NHMRC – Asthma, mental health, diabetes, injury, obesity, nutrition, alcohol guidelines, climate change.
These correlate will with the issues identified in Question 2.
Activity 4.1B
1 Mental health is an overall state of mental wellbeing whereas mental illness is a disorder of mental capacities such as thoughts and feelings. Mental illness has a negative impact on mental health.
2 Student responses will vary. Example response: If an individual is experiencing good mental health then they are coping well with the stresses of life, which may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Good mental health means that an individual is working productively and contributing to the community, which means they have more opportunities to establish relationships and develop communication skills therefore improving social health and development.
3 a Possible dot points:
• Males aged 15–19 years report higher levels of anxiety disorders, problems of psychological development and behavioural and emotional problems compared to females.
• Females aged 15–18 years report higher levels of mood disorders compared to males.
• Mood disorders are most prevalent among females, and problems of psychological development are most prevalent among males. b Student responses will vary but may include: How was the data collected? (For example, selfreported, reports via GPs or hospital admissions?) W hat do ‘problems of psychological development’ and ‘behavioural and emotional problems’ encompass?
Activity 4.1C
(Responses for Questions 1 –10 sourced from the Youthbeyondblue website.)
1 Depression is more than just a low mood – it's a serious illness. People with depression experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time and often without reason. People with depression find it hard to function every day and may be reluctant to participate in activities they once enjoyed.
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

2 Around 160 000 young people aged 16 –24 years live with depression. Girls are more likely than boys to get depression, but boys often find it harder to talk about their feelings and get help.
Depression is the most common mental health problem for young people. Around one in five young people will have experienced depression by the time they reach adulthood.
3 It is important that young people talk to someone if they are experiencing signs of depression as this will allow young people to seek professional help and receive appropriate treatment.
4 Depression is often caused by the mix of recent events and other longer-term or personal risk factors. Depression can also run in families and some people will be at increased genetic risk. Life circumstances are still likely to have an important influence on your chances of becoming ill; including being abused or bullied, feeling that you are doing badly at work or school, having bad experiences with your family (especially when you were young), family history of mental illness, parents having depression or another mental illness, family arguments, separation, divorce, brothers or sisters moving out of home, poor self-esteem, not getting on with friends or family, not coping, stress, not being able to talk to people, not having people to talk to, being in debt, putting yourself down, feeling lonely. Young people who experience a head injury or another illness, such as epilepsy or cancer, can also be at more risk of developing depression.
5 Effects of depression on health include poor sleeping, altered appetite, increased fatigue or pain, slowing down of thoughts and feelings, engaging in risk-taking behaviours including the use of alcohol and drugs. Effects on development include spending less time with friends and family
(impacts on social and emotional development), being less active (impacts on physical development) and moodiness (impacts on social development).
6 Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling of fear or imminent disaster and is a normal emotional response to danger. For people who have an anxiety disorder the anxiety overwhelms them and gets in the way of other parts of their life; such as how they perform at school or work, and how they get on with other people. It will usually be far more intense than normal anxiety and go on for weeks, months or even longer. At times their worry is so great they feel edgy, restless and tired, have difficulty concentrating, develop muscle tension (sore back, neck or jaw, headache) and find it hard to fall or stay asleep. In Australia, anxiety disorders are common; one in 25 teenagers (aged 13 –17 years) experience anxiety in any 12-month period. For those aged 18 –25 years the numbers are even higher, at one in 10.
7 Look for the signs of depression and anxiety, listen to your friends’ experience, talk about what’s going on, seek help together.
8 Protective factors for depressions include a sense of attachment and belonging, supportive social networks (friends and family), good relationships with at least one parent, life skills such as conflict resolution, anger management and problem-solving, positive coping skills (resilience), high selfesteem.
9 Responses may include Youthbeyondblue, National Youth Week, Headspace (Aus tralia’s national youth mental health foundation).
10 The role of community organisations in targeting depression is to provide local, accessible and affordable services to allow early identification and treatment of depression.
11 See box on page 107 in textbook.
Activity 4.1D
1 Student response will vary but may include: ‘Did you know that the onset of Type 1 diabetes typically occurs in people under 30?’
2 Diabetes is a health priority in Australia because it contributes ‘significantly to ill health, disability, poor quality of life and premature death. Additionally, diabetes mellitus is a contributing factor to several other causes of morbidity and mortality. It also increases the risk of a variety of complications including end-stage kidney disease, coronary heart disease, stroke and other vascular diseases. In 2003, diabetes was the eighth and tenth leading underlying cause of death in
Australia among males (1807) and females (1582) respectively. It was also the fifth most frequently managed problem by general practitioners in Australia in 2003 –04.’
(www.aihw.gov.au/nhpa/diabetesmellitus/index.cfm)
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

3 Diabetes mellitus was responsible for just under 5 per cent of the burden of disease in disabilityadjusted life years in Australia in 1996. In monetary terms, the direct costs of diabetes mellitus and its complications were estimated at $836 million in 2000 –01 and this is expected to increase as the population ages. (www.aihw.gov.au/nhpa/diabetesmellitus/index.cfm)
4 The long-term physical consequences of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes will be similar; for example, eye problems, peripheral vascular disease and fertility issues. The need to deal with daily medications or drugs will also have similar emotional and physical effects. Differences will occur as
Type 1 is not preventable; however, individuals with Type 2 diabetes may be able to reverse the condition with lifestyle changes, which will result in emotional differences.
5 Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity. The prevalence of obesity is currently increasing due to decreased physical activity and poor diet among young Australians.
6 a Examples of Diabetes Australia (Victoria) promoting health strategies for diabetes include the
‘Getting started’ program, maintaining the website, running workshops for health professionals and information sessions for different population groups with diabetes, and Diabetes Buzz Day. b Student responses will vary.
Activity 4.1E
1 Brainstorm prompts: road rules and design, seatbelts and airbags, occupational health and safety laws, health classes, money to buy safety equipment, risk-taking behaviour, swimming ability, wearing helmets.
2 Brainstorm prompts: TAC campaigns, water safety awareness campaigns (e.g. swimming between the flags, identifying a rip) , ‘Don’t turn a night out into a nightmare’ campaign.
3 Student responses will vary.
4 a Key issues and data for how injury affects youth and young adults:
• Youth is a time of transition to adult activities reflected in rising rates of transport injuries and proportion of deaths occurring outside the home, such as sports and work settings.
• During youth and young adulthood, people assume more independent roles and in doing so are exposed to greater choices and greater opportunities for risk.
• Independence occurs simultaneously with the development of new skills (such as driving and job skills) increasing opportunity for injury.
• Youth is a time of great need for acceptance by peers and potential exposure to experimentation with alcohol and other drugs, which can result in increased risks of injury.
• The effects of serious injury at this stage in life can have long-lasting effects on social and emotional development and occupational roles. Effects may extend to people other than the injured young, e.g. caregivers.
• Injuries were responsible for three-quarters of all male deaths at ages 15–24 years in 2002, and three-fifths of all female deaths. Nearly half of the injury deaths in this age group in 2002 were transport-related (mainly road crashes), and almost another third were due to suicide.
• Rates of death rose sharply from 15 years of age to a peak at about 18 years for transportrelated deaths (male and female).
• The rate of hospitalised injury for males at ages 15–24 years was 2.5 times the female rate in
2001 –02. For young males, injury hospitalisation rates rose with age from a low in childhood to almost double by ages 20 to 24. Female rates varied much less with age from childhood into adulthood. b Priority activities include increasing awareness about safety, addressing the impact of alcohol, working across all sectors, seeking youth advice in creating campaigns. c Student responses will vary.
5 • Transport accidents account for the highest rate of hospitalisations for 13 to 19-year-olds.
• Assault as a cause for hospitalisation for 13 to 19-year-olds is on the increase.
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

• Intentional self-harm as a cause for hospitalisation for 13 to 19-year-olds is now decreasing after six years of increasing numbers.
• The number of 13 to 19-year-olds hospitalised due to falls has remained quite steady and is the second most common reason for hospitalisation.
Activity 4.1F
1 Observations may include:
• Obesity peaks at the 9 to 13-year-old age group for both boys and girls.
• The majority of Australian children at all age groups are normal weight.
• The percentage of overweight and obese girls rises significantly from ages 4–8 to 9–13.
• Boys are less likely to be overweight at ages 9–13 compared to girls.
2 a ‘Overweight but not obese’ refers to an individual’s BMI being above the normal weight but not yet at an obese level; that is, between 25 and 30. b Prevalence, as it is the total number of overweight or obese children; not the number of new cases for a given period of time. c Observations may include:
• Indigenous males and females are far more likely to be obese than non-Indigenous 15 to 19year-olds.
• For Indigenous males and females, the percentage of obesity is similar.
• For non-Indigenous populations, females were slightly more likely to be obese.
• Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous males aged 15–19 years are more likely to be overweight but not obese compared to females of the same age.
3
Physical Social Mental
Increases risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers, sleep problems, hypertension
Social isolation decreases opportunities for interaction and development of communication skills
Increases risk of depression, decreased confidence, poor body image
4 Society needs to prevent children from becoming obese so that they don’t continue to be obese in adulthood. Prevention is the key to reducing the burden of disease associated with obesity.
5 a Sixty-two per cent of Australian adults (7.5 million) are now overweight or obese, an increase of more that 250 000 in three years. b The reasons given for this problem are a lack of vegetable consumption and exercise, junk food advertising and poorly labelled foods. c As there are many factors that contribute to obesity, which is a growing health concern in
Australia, the strategies employed to decrease obesity also need to be many and varied.
6 a ‘The incidence of overweight and obesity in children and young people in Australia has increased dramatically in recent years, with one in four children overweight or obese. This has serious long- and short-term health consequences. Excess weight gain in children is usually a result of eating too much food or the wrong type of food, combined with low energy expenditure – doing too little physical activity or being inactive for too much of the day. Nutrition is particularly important in the childhood years, which are a time of rapid growth and development. Healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle assist children to develop and grow to their potential, thus contributing to optimal educational outcomes and a healthy adult life. Furthermore, nutrition during childhood is also important in preventing lifestyle diseases such as obesity, dental disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and, in later life, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and a range of cancers.’
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

(www.education.vic.gov.au/management/schooloperations/healthycanteen/background/default.ht
m) b Key features of the State Government of Victoria’s ‘healthy canteen policy’:
• promotes a whole-school approach (including curriculum and community)
• is based on the Australian Government’s Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents
• aims to make it is easy and affordable for students to select a variety of nutritious foods
• categorises foods as ‘everyday’ (green), ‘select carefully’ (orange) and ‘occasionally’ (red)
• caters for special dietary needs
• addresses food safety. c The sale of confectionery in government schools was banned because consumption of such foods by Australian children is far above recommended levels and school should be an environment that is supportive of healthy food choices. Soft drinks are also banned as they are energy dense and nutrient poor, and consumption contributes to obesity and dental decay. Water is the recommended drink for children and adolescents. d The ban can be realistic and prac tical with ‘a little planning and realistic prices’. e Schools play a crucial role in providing an environment that is supportive of healthy food choices.
Healthy food can also be promoted through the curriculum (health and food technology classes), community collaboration (school vegetable garden), school policy (banning food-related fundraising or rewards) and health promotion (providing examples of a healthy lunch box in the school newsletter). f Student responses will vary. Students need to link good nutrition to improved health (weight management, glucose levels, energy levels) and development (bone and muscle development, growth, self-esteem). g Student responses will vary.
Activity 4.1G
1 Brainstorm prompts: friends, peer pressure, seeking independence, stage of brain development, depressions.
2 a
Alcohol
Short-term effects Impaired brain function
Coma or death
Lowering of inhibitions
Impairment of sensory and motor processes
Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, physical and sexual assault, falls, drowning, suicide
Long-term effects Impaired liver function
High blood pressure
Stroke
Tobacco
Decreased physical fitness
Increased respiratory illness
Slower lung growth
Range of cancers including lung, bladder and kidney
Cardiovascular disease
Drugs
Coma or death secondary to overdose
Psychological problems
Transmission of bloodborne disease
Sleep disorders
Weight loss
High blood pressure
Respiratory problems
Brain damage
Injuries or disease secondary to risk-taking behaviour
Chronic bronchitis
Psychological and behavioural problems
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

Development of some cancers
Sexual dysfunction
Gastric ulcers
Respiratory illness
Pregnancy complications b Data was collected via a national survey. c Student responses will vary.
3 Student responses will vary.
Activity 4.1H
1 Many people think they are allergic to food, but many are wrong as they are more likely to have a food intolerance.
2 Common causes of food allergy include milk, eggs, seafood, peanuts and other nuts.
3 Food allergies are an issue for young Australians because they affect about 5 per cent of children (a higher percentage than in adults, as many people ‘grow out’ of their allergies).
4 Student responses will vary but may focus on the risk of missing essential nutrients (for example, an allergy to milk will make it harder to meet calcium requirements) and the effect on health and growth, the social impact of needing a special diet, or the emotional impact of the risk of anaphylaxis.
5 The frequency of allergic disease has approximately doubled in the past few decades in Australia.
(www.allergy.org.au/content/view/106/118)
6 While some studies suggest that early exposure to some allergens may decrease the risk of developing allergies, there is no proven way to prevent allergies.
7 A young person could effectively manage a food allergy through having an anaphylaxis management plan; constant access to an EpiPen; teachers, parents and friends who are trained in first aid; GP support; attending a ‘nut-free’ school; making their own lunch and so on.
8 a ‘Nut-free’ schools, healthy canteen policy, food labelling laws.
b ASCIA, HealthInsite, Better Health Channel, Victorian Government health information website
(www.health.vic.gov.au), general practitioners, Asthma Australia.
Activity 4.1J
1 Brainstorm prompts: instant, up-to-date, affordable and fast information.
2 Possible definition: Cyber safety refers to the safe and responsible use of the Internet and ICT equipment/devices, including mobile phones.
3 The following definitions are from the Australian Governm ent’s Cybersmart website glossary.
Black list
Blog
Chat
Refers to a list of banned materials. An email blacklist blocks email considered spam – unsolicited emails sent via an automatic system – from entering your email inbox.
The word ‘blog’ is derived from the combination of the words ‘web’ and ‘log’. Blogs are virtual journals created by individuals and stored on the Internet. Blogs generally consist of text and images and can appear in a chronological format.
Online chat is the informal ‘conversational’ communication between users of the
Internet while they are online. This can be direct, one-on-one chat using tools such as instant messaging (IM), chat rooms or SMS. It can also be text-based group chat through media such as Internet Relay Chat, online forums and Wikis.
Chat room A place on the Internet where people with similar interests can communicate by typing messages on their computer. People can often enter an unmoderated chat room without any verification of who they are. Problems for students can arise with chat room participants pretending to be someone they are not.
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

Cyberstalking
Digital natives and digital immigrants
Flaming
A crime in which the attacker harasses a victim using electronic communication, such as email or instant messaging or messages posted to a website. A cyberstalker relies on the anonymity afforded by the Internet to allow them to stalk their victim without being detected.
Digital natives are people who have grown up in the digital world using technology as a way to commun icate, record, educate and understand society. Today’s youth are digital natives as they have had access to computers, mobile phones, email and other forms of technology since birth. Digital natives speak the language of technology and are as comfortable with technology as past generations – ‘digital immigrants’ – have been with pen and paper.
The sending of messages that includes bad language, or undesirable or obscene content. Flaming, also known as ‘flame wars’, generally occurs in unmoderated chat rooms. The majority of chat rooms remain ‘open’, where messages are posted automatically with no human intervention.
Identity theft When personal information is stolen and used for fraudulent purposes.
Online grooming
Netiquette
Occurs when an adult takes deliberate actions to befriend and establish an emotional connection with a child in order to lower the child’s inhibitions with the intent of later having sexual contact. It may include situations where adults pose as children in chat rooms or social networkin g sites and ‘befriend’ children in order to make arrangements to meet with them in person.
Derived from two words: I nternet and etiquette. Netiquette describes ‘the rules’ for how people should act online, especially in forums and chat rooms. Netiquette can also be applied to emails.
Phishing When emails are sent from falsified email addresses. Many phishing emails often claim to be from a bank, online retailer or credit card company. These emails direct recipients to a website that looks like the real website of a retailer or financial institution, which is designed to encourage the visitor to reveal financial details such as credit card numbers, account names and passwords, or other personal information.
Pop-ups
Safe zones
White list
Small windows that appear in the foreground of an Internet browser. Pop-ups can be integrated into some websites for practical purposes; however, they are often used to display advertising or pornography on the screen.
An alternative to filtering or labelling. Labelling allows web developers to categorise online content on the basis of language, violence, sexual content etc. Safe zones are services providing access to a range of sites that are suitable for children.
A list of email addresses or domain names from which an email blocking program will allow messages to be received.
4 a Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies such as email, mobile phone and pager text messages, instant messaging (IM) and defamatory personal websites to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behaviour by an individual or group that is intended to harm others. Student examples will vary. b Reachout.com reports that, ‘The number of reports of cyber-bullying to the NetAlert Helpline has been increasing, particularly since 2006. An online safety survey conducted by NetAlert and ninemsn in February 2007 found that 16 per cent of young people said they had been bullied online, while 14 per cent were bullied through their mobile, with boys and girls experiencing similar levels. Fifty-six per cent thought it was easy to get bullied online.
’ c Strategies include:
• Keep a record (including time and date). This may help you (or the police) to find out who is sending the messages.
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

• Tell someone. Talk to someone you trust: a parent, friend, school counsellor or teacher.
• Contact your phone or Internet service provider and report what is happening. They can help you block messages or calls from certain senders.
• If messages are threatening or serious get in touch with the police. Cyber-bullying, if it is threatening, is illegal.
• Do not reply to bullying messages. It will only get worse if you do. By replying, the bully gets what he or she wants. Often if you do not reply the bully will leave you alone.
• Change your contact details. Get a new user name for the Internet, a new email account, a new mobile phone number and only give them out to your closest friends.
• Keep your username and passwords secret. Keep your personal information private so it does not fall into the hands of someone who will misuse it. d As a parent, you can play an important role in helping your children have safe and positive experiences online. By becoming aware of how children and young people use the Internet, what they use it for, the risks in being online and some of the strategies to manage these risks, you can help guide them in the online world. Parents should also keep computers secure and monitor their use.
5 Cyber-bullying can cause lower self-esteem; feelings of loneliness, sadness, anger and fear; and can also contribute to depression and social isolation.
6 A full list of resources can be found at the Cybersmart website.
(www.cybersmart.gov.au/Parents/Family%20safety%20resources/Cybersmart%20contacts.aspx)
7 a Advice given to teenagers: think twice before posting personal information online because once you post something you have lost control of your piece of data. b Risky online behaviour: posting details of a party, posting personal details, posting inappropriate pictures. c ‘You are what you upload’ as everyone has access to what you have uploaded and it may be available for a very long time. It may be taken out of context and seen by people you did not intend to see it. d Advertising parties on sites such as MySpace is dangerous as the information can very quickly spread to many people and you can lose control of the situation. e Student responses will vary.
8 f Strategies may include using maximum privacy settings, not posting personal information, thinking twice before posting (for example, do I want my boss/parent/teachers to see this?), only talking to friends.
Application Description Uses/Benefits Impact on health and development
World Wide
Web
Email
A collection of pages on the
Internet that can be read with any web-enabled device such as a mobile phone, PDA or computer. Users need an
Internet connection, a computer and a web browser in order to access and interact with the online information that forms part of the web.
Email is mail that is sent from one computer to another. Email
Access a wide array of up-to-date information
Able to access all other applications listed in this table
Allows individuals to easily maintain
May assist intellectual development via improved access to information, improving knowledge, using stimulating programs.
May assist social and emotional health by removing barriers to interaction and communication for socially isolated individuals. May
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

Chat
Instant messaging messages can be sent to anyone with an email address, anywhere in the world. Email is stored on a computer and can be read when the recipient checks their email inbox, just like a post mailbox.
Online chat is the informal
‘conversational’ communication between users of the Internet while they are online. This can be direct, one-on-one chat using tools such as instant messaging
(IM), chat rooms or SMS. It can also be text-based group chat through media such as Internet
Relay Chat, online forums and
Wikis.
An instant messaging program can instantly send messages from one computer to another by mea ns of small ‘pop-up’ windows. They are a form of
‘instant email’ and are very popular with students and adults alike. They are usually a one-toone communication medium, although some programs allow many people to chat at the same time, like a private chat room.
Newsgroups and discussion groups
A group of people who post messages about a single subject on a computer network
Peer to peer networking
(See textbook page 129)
Social networking sites
Online games
A social networking website is an online place where a user can create a profile and build a personal network of online
‘friends’. In the past five years, sites such as MySpace and
Facebook have engaged tens of millions of Internet users.
Games played over some forms of computer network communication
Facilitates communication
Promotes a sense of connection
Allows instant communication
Allows like-minded people to connect and form a community
Allows collaboration
Enables meeting new friends and sustaining current friendships
Provides entertainment and competition
Enables meeting new friends
4.1 Review
1 Student responses will vary.
2 Student responses will vary. have a negative impact if the individual uses the applications to avoid faceto-face interactions.
Time spent on these applications may limit physical activity decreasing physical health and development.
Use of computer may improve fine motor skills.
May expose the individual to cyber-bullying, lowering selfesteem.
May provide a place to make new friends and a place to connect and belong to a ‘community’.
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

3
Health issue
Mental health Mental illness is the biggest cause of disability for Australians aged 15
One in 10 Australians aged 15
Asthma
Diabetes
Injury
Weight
(See textbook page 132)
Anything that causes physical harm to the body; can be intentional or unintentional
Maintaining a healthy body weight, and a BMI between 18.5 and 25
Injury is the leading cause of hospitalisation among 15 to 24-year-olds.
It accounts for 18 per cent of the burden of disease for this age group.
Overweight and obesity are risk factors for many other conditions.
Obesity is increasing among children and youths.
Drug use: tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances
Abuse of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs
Asthma affects children more than adults.
It is the major cause of absenteeism, ED and hospital admissions.
Asthma can restrict quality of life.
There is an increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in young people.
Sun protection
Sexual and reproductive health
Brief description
A state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her own community
Chronic inflammation and swelling of the airways
Sun protection behaviours such as wearing a hat, sunglasses and long sleeves; avoiding the sun between
11 am and 3 pm; not sunbaking; sitting in the shade etc.
Safe sex practices such as using contraceptives, relationships, STIs sexuality and pregnancy
Food allergies Body’s immune system is provoked to produce antibodies to specific proteins in a food
Homelessness The state of not having a home for a variety of factors, including domestic violence or difficult family relationships
Cyber-safety Keeping safe while using technology such as the Internet
Reasons it is a health issue for
Australian youth
As Internet use increases, the incidence of cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking also increases.
–24 years.
–19 years reported a mental or behavioural problem.
Youth is a stage when people are experimenting with drug use.
Drug use results in many short- and longterm health consequences.
Risk of melanoma comes largely from exposure early in life.
Melanoma remains the most common cancer diagnosed in young people aged 12 –
24 years.
Young adults become sexually active and can engage in unsafe sexual practices that can result in long- and short-term consequences.
Food allergies affect about 5 per cent of infants.
The number of homeless youth is increasing: 22 000 teenagers every night.
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

Activity 4.2A
1 See ‘Example: diabetes’ on page 133 of the textbook.
2 Student responses will vary.
3 a Claire has Type 1 diabetes, which means the pancreas does not make insulin and therefore she requires insulin injections to allow glucose to move from the bloodstream to the cells.
b Lack of flexibility with lifestyle may limit opportunities for interaction. Claire may feel guilty for the burden placed on her family. Claire may also feel left out and different from other people her age, and experience increased stress. Claire has developed increased responsibility and independence in looking after her health. c Challenges experienced include lack of flexibility with lifestyle, less income, increased stress.
Challenges overcome by teaching Claire independence, strong family support, treating Claire as an equal. d Student responses will vary.
Activity 4.2B
1 See ‘Example: asthma’ on page 135. DALY is calculated as YLL + YLD. Asthma has a more significant impact on YLD than YLL. As YLD increases so too must DALY.
2 Asthma is more likely to cause illness than death. This is largely due to good medication and the ability of the ambulance and hospital system to prevent an asthma attack from becoming fatal.
However, individuals still need to take regular medication, may be limited in day-to-day activities and need to take days off work/school therefore contributing to YLD.
3 Observations may include that asthma prevalence increases with age among females, but decreases with age for males; and males are more likely to have asthma aged 12 –14 years compared to females, but far less likely at age 20 –24 years.
4 The prevalence of asthma has stabilised since the 1990s and may even have reversed. Australia has a high prevalence compared to other countries. Prevalence is higher among boys than girls.
5 Research on the incidence of asthma is difficult to find as most research focuses on the prevalence; however, it is generally considered to be steady or even slightly decreasing.
Activity 4.2C
1 Prevalence is used to describe the total number of children and teenagers that where overweight or obese for given time periods. It is used to show trends over time.
2 To determine incidence we would need to see data showing the number of new cases for a given time period.
3 a Between 1995 and 2004 –05 the prevalence of females who were obese has increased. The prevalence of males peaked in 2001 and decreased in 2004 –05. The prevalence of males and females who are overweight but not obese has increased from 1995 to 2004 –05. b Student responses will vary but may include that males are more likely to be overweight but not obese compared to females, and that females are slightly more likely to be obese compared to males. c It is likely that these trends will have a negative effect on the health and development of young people. Student responses will vary to demonstrate this negative effect.
Activity 4.2D
1 National Skin Cancer Awareness Campaign, ‘Protect yourself in five ways from the sun’ print and television advertising.
2 SunSmart program (including SunSmart schools).
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia

3 Student responses will vary.
Activity 4.2E
1 a SunSmart aims to minimise the human cost of skin cancer in Victoria. They take a leadership role promoting a balance between the benefits and harms of ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and the links with vitamin D. This includes education and health promotion activities. b Current campaign: The Dark side of tanning campaign aims to educate young Victorians about the dangers of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, while busting some common myths about skin cancer. Research reveals that many young Australians hold incorrect beliefs and perceptions about skin cancer and sun protection. The Dark side of tanning campaign aims to increase understanding of the severity of melanoma, reduce pro-tanning attitudes, increase understanding of the risks of unsafe exposure to the sun, and increase the number of people frequently using a range of sun protection measures, not limited to sunscreen. c SunSmart is recognised as a very successful program because it follows the Ottawa Charter for
Health Promotion Action Areas and as a result ‘rates of skin cancer in young people are declining and fewer people are getting sunburnt. Victoria leads the way with new solarium legislation.’
2 a Clare Oliver’s message centres around the importance of skin protection from the sun, and in particular from solariums, particularly for young people. b One hundred per cent of proceeds from the Claire Oliver Melanoma Fund will go to melanoma research, focusing on research collaborations between leading melanoma research and treatment centres. c The success of the campaign may be measured by the number of 12 to 24-year-olds diagnosed with melanoma.
3 Student responses may include providing free sunscreen, making wearing of hats compulsory, allowing sunglasses to be worn, designing long-sleeve uniforms, providing shaded areas for spectators, enforcing a heat policy on days of extreme heat and ultraviolet radiation.
4 Student responses will vary.
Activity 4.2F
1 Five ways: slip, slop, slap, seek and slide.
2 a Wore headwear (38 per cent). b Wore headwear and 3/4 or long leg cover (both 38 per cent). c Similar results make it difficult to explain the differences. A slight decrease in wearing hats may come from a lack of parental encouragement/supervision or no longer attending school with a compulsory policy to wear hats for 18 to 24-year-olds. d The majority of teenagers are not engaging in sun-smart behaviours or regularly monitoring for skin changes. This means it is unlikely that the prevalence of melanoma in the age group will decrease and early detection is less likely. e Student responses will vary but may include the use of role models, cultural changes and use of personal experiences of other young people.
3 a The proportion of males who regularly check skin for changes decreases from 12 to 24 years of age. More females than males in the 12 to 24-year-old age group check their skin for changes in freckles or moles. Females checking their skin decreases from ages 12 –14 years to 15–19 years and then increases again for ages 20 –24 years. Overall, males and females checking their skin for changes decreases with age. b Regular skin checks are important as early detection is vital for the successful treatment of melanoma. c The implications of this information for the health of young people is not positive as the majority of young people are still not taking up the current health promotion messages. This shows that more work focused on this age group is still required.
VCE Health + Human Development Units 1+2 ISBN 978 0 19 556312 2 © Oxford University Press Australia