Around 30 young people from north and south Lanarkshire schools participated in an event about health and their experiences of health services.

Ashley Goodfellow, public health specialist, said: The young people took part in four workshops to tell us what their health concerns and information needs were and the best way of providing information.

“They told us about their experiences of using health services, both positive and negative, and gave their ideas about how they could be more involved in planning and advising on health services.”

Common health information needs were in relation to mental health, sexual health issues, tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

The participants suggested a range of methods for better provision of information, including making use of social media.

Ashley added: “The young people who took part had experience of using a variety of health services and shared examples of both positive and negative experiences that can be learned from. They suggested that they could be more involved in health service planning and improvement by use of web-based tools and social media, further engagement events for young people, peer education and through settings such as schools, GP practices and libraries.

“The event report will be shared with relevant services for action and feedback to young people. This will be the beginning of an improved participative process with children and young people in the shaping of future health services.”