Adolescent Health in the European Region: Policy Development and the Role of WHO

AbstractAdolescents in Europe are generally the healthiest in the world, but significant opportunities to improve adolescent health and wellbeing remain across the WHO European Region, with investment in this life stage being vital to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Activity in this area is guided by WHO Europe’s Child and Adolescent Health Strategy 2015–2020, which all 53 member states in the region endorsed. The strategy sets out principles and priorities, which countries adapt to their national needs, with WHO monitoring overall implementation. This chapter details initiatives that are guided by this strategy, that the WHO Regional Office for Europe oversee and have helped develop. This includes assessing causes of morbidity and mortality, development of adolescent friendly health services, development of tools and guidance for member states, supporting school-based health promotion and ongoing strategic development.