Adolescents and risk-taking: the AdRisk-project
Injuries account for more then 20.000 deaths per year in European Youth and this represents 64% of all deaths in the age group 15-24 in EU-27. Twice as many young people die of fatal injuries as of all other causes of death combined such as cancer and diseases of the circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems. Yet according to the European AdRisk project, much can be done to prevent injuries among 15-24 year olds by understanding and addressing their risk-taking behaviour.
New approach
AdRisk is different from other programmes related to adolescents and injury prevention because the aim is not a campaign against a specific risk for adolescents. The innovative aspect of AdRisk is to take into consideration the specific risk factor of risk taking behaviour and to raise curiosity among adolescents and show acceptance to youth. The key message is: Risk taking is fun, but better be safe than sorry!
Results
The project team consists of five international public health organisations lead by the Austrian Road Safety Board (KfV). The AdRisk package comprises:
- Injuries and risk-taking among young people in Europe: The European Situation Analysis, which provides an overview of the living conditions and health behaviour of young people as well as facts and figures concerning intentional and unintentional injuries among young people.
- Good Practices Guide to Prevention of Injuries among Young People, that provides an overview of good practices and case studies in the field of injury prevention for adolescents
- Guide for initiating national action on adolescents and injury prevention in Europe – this report provides guidelines for initiating actions on a national level. The final aim is to implement national programmes and projects on adolescents’ injury prevention.
- Tackling Injuries among Adolescents and Young Adults: Strategy and Framework for Action. The document points out efficient strategies of the past and suggests an additional, supplementing approach of developing risk competence. Main areas of interventions are presented. A printed version of the Strategy document can be ordered at susanne.proestl(at)kfv.at (for free).
- Ad Risk Toolbox: Tools for implementation are available from an online Toolbox.
