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HMS, HIC 2019 HSC 28a

  1. Describe the nature and extent of ONE major health issue that affects young people.  (4 marks)
  2. Explain risk factors and protective factors related to the major health issue identified in part (i).  (4 marks)

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i.    Health issue – Mental health

  • Mental health conditions represent a significant health issue affecting young Australians aged 12-25 years.
  • The nature of mental health issues includes anxiety disorders, depression and stress-related conditions that impact psychological and emotional wellbeing.
  • These conditions affect daily functioning, academic performance and social relationships among young people.
  • The extent of the issue demonstrates widespread impact across Australian youth populations.
  • Nearly two in five young people aged 16-24 experience mental health conditions within a 12-month period.
  • Females experience higher rates than males, with anxiety disorders being most prevalent.
  • Mental health issues represent the leading cause of disease burden for young Australians, indicating substantial impact on quality of life and long-term health outcomes.

ii.   Health issue – Mental health

  • Risk factors increase vulnerability to mental health conditions among young people. Academic pressure and social media exposure contribute to anxiety development. This occurs because unrealistic expectations create stress and comparison behaviours. Family breakdown and substance abuse lead to emotional instability and poor coping mechanisms.
  • Protective factors reduce mental health risks through supportive environments. Strong family relationships and peer support networks provide emotional stability during challenging periods. This helps because social connections offer resilience and coping strategies. Regular physical activity and adequate sleep patterns strengthen mental wellbeing by improving mood regulation and stress management.

 

Show Worked Solution

i.    Health issue – Mental health

  • Mental health conditions represent a significant health issue affecting young Australians aged 12-25 years.
  • The nature of mental health issues includes anxiety disorders, depression and stress-related conditions that impact psychological and emotional wellbeing.
  • These conditions affect daily functioning, academic performance and social relationships among young people.
  • The extent of the issue demonstrates widespread impact across Australian youth populations.
  • Nearly two in five young people aged 16-24 experience mental health conditions within a 12-month period.
  • Females experience higher rates than males, with anxiety disorders being most prevalent.
  • Mental health issues represent the leading cause of disease burden for young Australians, indicating substantial impact on quality of life and long-term health outcomes.

ii.   Health issue – Mental health

  • Risk factors increase vulnerability to mental health conditions among young people. Academic pressure and social media exposure contribute to anxiety development. This occurs because unrealistic expectations create stress and comparison behaviours. Family breakdown and substance abuse lead to emotional instability and poor coping mechanisms.
  • Protective factors reduce mental health risks through supportive environments. Strong family relationships and peer support networks provide emotional stability during challenging periods. This helps because social connections offer resilience and coping strategies. Regular physical activity and adequate sleep patterns strengthen mental wellbeing by improving mood regulation and stress management.

HMS, HIC 2023 HSC 28ai

Outline ONE strategy that can be used to overcome an individual factor that adversely affects a young person's health.   (3 marks)

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Sample answer

  • A young person with low health literacy regarding sun protection could attend SunSmart education programs delivered in Australian schools.
  • Programs like this provide practical strategies for sun protection including the five S’s of ‘Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide’ to improve knowledge of UV protection behaviors.
  • These programs address the individual factor of knowledge and attitudes by fostering understanding of the link between sun exposure and skin cancer risk in Australia’s high-UV environment.
Show Worked Solution

Sample answer

  • A young person with low health literacy regarding sun protection could attend SunSmart education programs delivered in Australian schools.
  • Programs like this provide practical strategies for sun protection including the five S’s of ‘Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide’ to improve knowledge of UV protection behaviors.
  • These programs address the individual factor of knowledge and attitudes by fostering understanding of the link between sun exposure and skin cancer risk in Australia’s high-UV environment.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 082

Young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds often experience poorer health outcomes compared to their more advantaged peers.

Outline how various stakeholders contribute to addressing health inequities among this population.   (3 marks)

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Answers could include: 

  • Government addresses health inequities through targeted funding of school health programs in disadvantaged areas and subsidised healthcare via Medicare.
  • Communities support through local sporting clubs offering free registration fees and neighbourhood networks providing transportation to health appointments.
  • Non-government organisations conduct health literacy campaigns and provide emergency food relief in underserved communities.
  • Collaborative partnerships between sectors create sustainable programs like mobile health clinics that overcome geographical barriers for disadvantaged youth.
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Answers could include: 

  • Government addresses health inequities through targeted funding of school health programs in disadvantaged areas and subsidised healthcare via Medicare.
  • Communities support through local sporting clubs offering free registration fees and neighbourhood networks providing transportation to health appointments.
  • Non-government organisations conduct health literacy campaigns and provide emergency food relief in underserved communities.
  • Collaborative partnerships between sectors create sustainable programs like mobile health clinics that overcome geographical barriers for disadvantaged youth.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 081

To what extent do the determinants of health influence the health status of young Australians? In your response, consider major determinants that most significantly impact young people's health.   (12 marks)

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Judgment Statement

  • Determinants of health influence young Australians’ health to a significant extent, with socioeconomic, environmental and biomedical factors playing a critical role in shaping health outcomes.

Socioeconomic Determinants

  • Evidence supporting this significant influence includes family income controlling health opportunities.
  • Wealthy families can access private healthcare and afford gym memberships while poor families cannot.
  • Youth from the lowest income areas have double the obesity rates and relatively limited access to mental health services.
  • Education has a huge influence on health literacy with children of university-educated parents much more likely to make informed and better health choices.

Biomedical Determinants

  • Genetic factors significantly shape youth health regardless of personal choices or behaviours.
  • Biomedical determinants like predisposition to diabetes, asthma or mental illness affect young people regardless of status.
  • Hormonal changes during puberty universally impact young people’s mood and risk-taking.
  • These biological factors establish baseline health that other determinants modify.

Environmental Determinants

  • Geographic location profoundly impacts health access.
  • Examples of this include rural youth facing specialist shortages and often many travelling hours for treatment, and urban youth dealing with air pollution and overcrowding.
  • Built environments can have an oversized effect on youth activity levels through bike paths and sports facilities.

Interactions of Determinants

  • Determinants rarely work in isolation.
  • Poor rural youth face triple disadvantage – low income, limited services and environmental hazards compound together.
  • Wealthy urban youth can overcome genetic predispositions through healthcare access.
  • These determinants can interplay to either magnify or mitigate health risks, demonstrating their profound influence on all Australian young people.

Reaffirmation

  • The significant influence of health determinants becomes undeniable when examining health data.
  • Location, income and genetics predict many outcomes, significantly reducing an individual’s control over their own health.
  • Positively addressing these influences demands system-level interventions targeting root causes rather than expecting young people to overcome structural disadvantages alone.
Show Worked Solution

Judgment Statement

  • Determinants of health influence young Australians’ health to a significant extent, with socioeconomic, environmental and biomedical factors playing a critical role in shaping health outcomes.

Socioeconomic Determinants

  • Evidence supporting this significant influence includes family income controlling health opportunities.
  • Wealthy families can access private healthcare and afford gym memberships while poor families cannot.
  • Youth from the lowest income areas have double the obesity rates and relatively limited access to mental health services.
  • Education has a huge influence on health literacy with children of university-educated parents much more likely to make informed and better health choices.

Biomedical Determinants

  • Genetic factors significantly shape youth health regardless of personal choices or behaviours.
  • Biomedical determinants like predisposition to diabetes, asthma or mental illness affect young people regardless of status.
  • Hormonal changes during puberty universally impact young people’s mood and risk-taking.
  • These biological factors establish baseline health that other determinants modify.

Environmental Determinants

  • Geographic location profoundly impacts health access.
  • Examples of this include rural youth facing specialist shortages and often many travelling hours for treatment, and urban youth dealing with air pollution and overcrowding.
  • Built environments can have an oversized effect on youth activity levels through bike paths and sports facilities.

Interactions of Determinants

  • Determinants rarely work in isolation.
  • Poor rural youth face triple disadvantage – low income, limited services and environmental hazards compound together.
  • Wealthy urban youth can overcome genetic predispositions through healthcare access.
  • These determinants can interplay to either magnify or mitigate health risks, demonstrating their profound influence on all Australian young people.

Reaffirmation

  • The significant influence of health determinants becomes undeniable when examining health data.
  • Location, income and genetics predict many outcomes, significantly reducing an individual’s control over their own health.
  • Positively addressing these influences demands system-level interventions targeting root causes rather than expecting young people to overcome structural disadvantages alone.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 64 MC

The interrelationship between determinants of health for young people is most accurately described by which statement?

  1. Individual health determinants operate independently, with biomedical factors having the strongest influence.
  2. Environmental determinants always override socioeconomic factors in determining health outcomes.
  3. Determinants function in isolation from each other, with each affecting different aspects of health.
  4. Multiple determinants interact, creating compound effects that amplify advantages or disadvantages.
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\(D\)

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  • D is correct as health determinants interact in complex ways, creating compound effect.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect because determinants don’t operate independently.
  • B is incorrect because environmental determinants don’t consistently override socioeconomic factors.
  • C is incorrect because determinants don’t function in isolation.