Health & community services

Young people’s capacity to be resilient and to gain more control over the problems that restrict their ability to live well is enhanced by the availability of health and community services (Masten 2009; Benson, 2007), including primary health care, dental care, mental health care, AOD services, youth services, homelessness services, emergency services, and counselling and support services. While primary health care, dental care and emergency services are essential for the whole population, they are particularly important when other resources and assets are lacking in the social ecology or are difficult to access. Young people might also benefit from participation in health promotion initiatives such as drug prevention programs.