When we think about public health, we often think about how to reach young people. But what if we also asked young people to help shape the conversation?
People under 18 make up approximately 21% of the U.S. population—nearly one in five people. Young people are also navigating a unique set of public health challenges, from mental health and anxiety to cyberbullying, social media, misinformation, and vaccine-preventable diseases. For many young people, these aren’t abstract issues. They are part of their everyday lives.
Young People Bring a Perspective We Need
Young people have firsthand experience with the environments that shape their health and the health of their peers. They know which platforms their peers use, what language feels authentic, and which messages are more likely to build trust. This is especially important for young people who face greater health risks and barriers. Marginalized youth can experience disproportionately higher rates of certain health challenges, making it even more important that public health creates opportunities for diverse youth perspectives to be heard.
Peer-to-peer education is one way to do this. When young people have the knowledge and confidence to share health information with their peers, public health messages can become more relatable and accessible.
Today’s Youth Are Tomorrow’s Leaders
Youth engagement also extends beyond the present. Today’s young people are tomorrow’s parents, community leaders, advocates, and decision-makers. Giving young people opportunities to build health literacy and leadership skills today can help shape healthier communities for years to come.
At Unity Consortium, this belief is reflected in our Teen Advisory Council (TAC) and Trusted Teen CommUNITY (TTC). Through TAC, young people have an opportunity to bring their experiences and perspectives into Unity’s work. TTC builds on that foundation by preparing teens to become Teen CommUNITY Leaders who can share health information and engage their peers.
From vaccine science and health communication to media literacy and navigating misinformation, TTC gives young people tools they can take back to their own communities.
Youth Behind the Voices
- “Stay vaccinated so that you don’t miss out on moments with your friends and family.”
- “My health is so incredibly important to me, especially during the school year, because it impacts my attendance, understanding of directions, and my school experience. Without the assurance of vaccines, I’d most likely be home constantly and missing my friends as well.”
- “Your health radiates. It is important for you to be vaccinated because it keeps those around you from contracting diseases and if you are not vaccinated you never know who you might infect and what consequences that may have. For the good of everyone; please vaccinate.”
Teen experiences demonstrate what is possible when young people are given more than a seat in the audience—they are given an opportunity to lead. Young people aren’t simply recipients of public health messages. They can help shape them, communicate them, and carry them forward.
When we listen to young people, we aren’t just investing in their future. We’re strengthening public health today.
