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Health and Wellbeing ‘app’ is the first of its kind for St Helens teenagers

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A mobile phone ‘app’, which has been specifically developed to support teenagers in St Helens, is the first of its kind in the country.

NHS St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and St Helens Borough Council have jointly developed the ‘app’ which will provide information about a range of health conditions as well as advice on health related and social issues which affect young people, such as bullying and sexual exploitation. A website carrying the same information will compliment it.

It has been developed after engaging with numerous school groups and youth community groups over the course of a year, with input from over 100 teenagers in St Helens.

Speaking at the app launch at Cowley International College, Dr Stephen Cox, Clinical Chief Executive (St Helens CCG) said: “When we have engaged with young people who have been very specific about the worries and concerns they have, and how they want us to communicate with them.

“We understand there is often conflicting and confusing information and advice for young people when it comes to health and wellbeing, and the aim of providing a dedicated website and accompanying mobile phone app is to provide all of the right information in one place so as many young people as possible are able to access it. “

The website and phone app are completely free to use and download, and have been developed alongside young people in the borough. A number of schools in St Helens are backing the app and will be promoting it with their students in the next few months.

St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Andy Bowden, said: “It’s important that teenagers in the borough have access to health and wellbeing information relevant for their age and with details of our local services that can help and support them with any problems or concerns they may have. The app is a great media platform for engaging with young people and a great way to communicate our health and wellbeing messages.”

Topics include:

  • Serious illnesses such as meningitis and septicaemia
    · General wellbeing which covers common ailments, healthy lifestyles, relationships and contraception, sexual exploitation, bullying, young carers and digital safety
    · Significant conditions like asthma and diabetes
    · Useful contacts

Julie Wright, Work Related Learning Manager for Cowley International College said: “We were honoured to be part of the app development process and have St  Helens CCG and St Helens Borough Council engaging with our Health & Social Care students on what health topics they thought teenagers would want more information about.  The teenage app is amazing. The young people of St. Helens will benefit immensely from accessing this app, which will lead them to living a fuller and healthier lifestyle.”

The St Helens teenage phone app is available for free on Google Play and the Apple Store – just search for St Helens health. You can log on to the website at www.sthelenshealthadviceforyp.uk

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