DO YOU FEEL HAPPY & HEALTHY?
As a young adult you have the responsibility of looking after your own health. Health includes not only your physical health - health & fitness of your body, but also your mental health - how are your moods? Do you feel happy or sad?
You also have more rights in regards to how you’re treated, the treatment you receive and who treats you. Doctors and other medical professionals should always treat you as an adult and listen and respect your questions, ideas and feelings.
Your rights and responsibilities:
You have the right to:
- Choose your doctor and other medical people you want to treat you
- Expect medical people not to talk about your health problems with your parents or carers ( unless you want them to)
- Be listened to
- Be treated as an adult when you’re 16
- Have your treatment explained to you in words you can understand
- Look at information the doctor or others keep about you
- Stop or refuse medical treatment
- Complain if you are not treated properly by medical people
You have a responsibility to:
- Look after your own health
- Listen to what doctors and other medical people tell you
- Say if you want or don’t want the treatment they suggest
- At the age of 18 think about being a blood or organ donor (ask your doctor for advice)
Who to ask for help:
Your GP (general practioner), or your family doctor is the person you speak to for most medical problems. If you require help about a special problem, your doctor can put you in touch with many other services such as:
- A doctor who knows more about your problem (a consultant)
- Physiotherapist (treats joint & muscle problems)
- Speech and language therapist
- Dietician
- Chiropodist (Foot specialist)
- Counsellor
- Community nurse
- Health visitor
- Sexual Health clinics
Your Mental Health
There are lots of different mental health conditions, but the most common are stress, anxiety and depression. Lots of people will suffer from one of these at some point in their life. These feelings happen to most people and they normally just come and go.
Sometimes you might not even realise you have a mental health condition because you have been feeling stressed, anxious or depressed for a long time. It is very important to speak to people and share your feelings and ask for help if you think you need it.
You can get help with a mental health condition from:
- Your doctor (GP)
- Your family and friends
- A counsellor
- An organisation such as Young Minds or Mind
- your school or college
The Samaritans on 08457 909090 are always there to talk to if you feel lonely or desperate Samaritans provides confidential non-judgmental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. No matter what the problem is, they are there for you if you need someone to talk to 08457 909090, or Ayrshire local branch 43 Titchfield Street, Kilmarnock KA1 1QS United Kingdom. Phone: (01563) 531313
Useful Links
Sex
Are you thinking about sex and relationships?
There can be a lot of pressure to lose your virginity - that is, to have sexual intercourse (often referred to as 'having sex') for the first time. Having sex with someone just because you want to lose your virginity, or because you think all your friends are doing it, is something you may regret later.
You might feel many anxieties, especially the first time you have sexual intercourse. You may feel embarrassed about how you look without your clothes on, or worried about your privacy being disturbed. It's natural to feel some worries but good communication will really help to prevent you feeling embarrassed or worried. You should be able to talk to your partner about how you feel about having sex for the first time, and about any concerns you may have. Your partner might be worried, too. Being relaxed and able to share things with your partner will really ease the tension. And if you're too shy, or you're not able to talk about these things with your partner - then you probably shouldn't be having sex.
Your rights to have sex and the law?
The law says it's legal for you to consent to have sex from the age of 16. This applies if you live in Scotland, England, Wales and the Channel Islands. In Northern Ireland the age of consent (legal age) is 17.
Young people also have the right to say no to sex or any other behaviour that makes them uncomfortable. Abuse can be emotional, physical or sexual. Abuse can also take the form of neglect. It can happen in different types of relationships and is to do with power. Abuse of any kind in any relationship is never the fault of the person being abused.
You can get free and confidential advice about sex, contraception and termination at anytime. Visit your local doctor, young persons clinic or sexual health clinic.
Contraception - Choices
There are many different methods of contraception to choose from – they are available free from most sexual health clinics and can all help to prevent pregnancy.
There are different types including hormonal methods (like the pill and the implant) and barrier methods (like the condom). Hormonal methods are best at preventing pregnancy, barrier methods are best at preventing STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). You can use both at the same time!
Only condoms can help to prevent STIs and pregnancy, if used correctly.
Useful Links
Ayrshire & Arran Sexual Health
The Siteorg-your guide to the real world
Your Eyes and Mouth (Optical & Dental)
Eye tests are very important to check to see if your eyes are healthy. You may need to wear glasses or contact lenses to help you to see better. You should have an eye test every two years, but many people have them more often. You can also take someone with you to the optician (eye doctor), like a friend, a relative or your Fairway Facilitator.
It is also important to register with and see a dentist regularly. If you register with a dentist:
- you can receive regular check-ups to keep your mouth healthy
- you will get free dental check-ups on the NHS
- you will have access to advice abd treatment in an emergency.
For more information and to find a list of local dentists within Ayrshire please go to www.nhsayrshireandarran.com and click on Your health and then Where’s my nearest...?
For more information see local contacts below:
NHS Learning Disability Service
South Ayrshire – 01292 614910
North Ayrshire – 01294 323560
East Ayrshire – 01563 541406
