Health & Wellbeing in Integrated Learning Communities

If ever anyone wanted to hear about how a difference can be made to health improvement based on the philosophy of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) then here is an example to get us all thinking. I think it illustrates the importance of a combined effort at all levels and a cross curricular community approach

Not that long ago changes were made to the law regarding the age of purchasing tobacco. Albeit the decision to raise the age to 18 was made with virtually very little warning to us we did our best to promote awareness in Highland. In co-ordinating a press release a few weeks before my intentions were to put a positive spin on things. The Scottish Adolescent and Substance Misuse Survey (SALSUS) statistics told us that in Highland there was a significant decrease in the numbers of 13 & 15 year olds smoking in Highland, I wanted to find out why that was as I knew if I reported that in my press release that my phone would be red hot with journalists wanting an angle.

I conducted a trawl of most of the schools in Highland speaking to staff and pupils asking why they thought that these levels had come down. “It’s just not cool anymore” I was told by some pupils, “Why?” I asked. “Well we learn about it in PSE, Biology, Chemistry, PE, Geography, the youth worker, drama, school nurse”.

I was also told by an enthustiastic guidance teacher that the school reinforced the anti smoking message by handing out detentions for those even standing with other pupils smoking and that the change in law was a welcome one ”Thank god the message is coming from the Exec, it feels like we’ve been the only ones banging on about it for years.” Pupils then said that the smoking ban in public places and the media curb on public figures smoking on TV and films also reinforced the message, it just wasn’t cool anymore. It was also stated that “I’d rather spend my money on mobile phone credit” was also an indication of priorities for young people!

I guess what I’m trying to illustrate is that maybe culture change is possible with a sustained effort at all levels. As we move into the age of the new School Act and Local Authorities meeting strict nutritional standards with all food and snacks in schools and the health and wellbeing outcomes for CfE, hopefully we’ll see a shift in behaviours in other key health areas too. But surely all the messages need to be reinforced at a Government level too…