Abstract

Compared to approximately ten years ago, the number of smokers and cannabis users among youths in the Dutch population has decreased slightly whereas the use of condoms has increased. Negative trends can be seen in increases in overweight and alcohol use. Although their incidence has hardly increased over the last twenty years, mental health problems are quite common in young people in the Netherlands. This can be concluded from an RIVM report on lifestyle that includes smoking, use of alcohol and cannabis, overweight, and risky sexual behaviour among the Dutch youth population. The report also contains data on mental health that covers emotional and behavioural problems.
Whilst the health of young people between the ages of birth and 18 years is good in general, prevention still remains an important issue. Young people can damage their health by living an unhealthy lifestyle, not only at short term but especially when they reach an older age. Preventive interventions should comprise a combination of influencing the behaviour of the youths themselves as well as measures aimed at a healthy living environment. Moreover, any approach taken should cover more than one unhealthy lifestyle factor, such as smoking, drinking alcohol and risky sexual behaviour because these issues usually occur in the same youths.
Unhealthy lifestyle factors and mental health problems occur more frequently in youths with a lower educational level. One large and significant target group where the problems described could be prevented is that of youths attending VMBO - preparatory secondary vocational education. The relationship between ethnicity on the one side and unhealthy lifestyle and mental health problems on the other side is not clear.