Young people ages 15 to 24 in the Shreveport region deserve access to quality and comprehensive health services and education, however, many experience negative health outcomes that may be related to the conditions in which they live, work, and play. In order to address the health concerns of young people in the area, Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) conducted a one-year landscape assessment to identify the existing resources, gaps in services, major health concerns for this age group, the challenges in addressing health outcomes, and the opportunities for improving the overall health of young people in the region.Overall, mental health and sexual health were of the greatest concern for young people in the region. The assessment was conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated underlying mental health concerns and the effects of trauma on the mental well-being of young people. Mental health was mentioned as a top concern by every stakeholder type. Young people felt overwhelmingly as though there are not enough resources to support mental health and that there were few places to turn for services.
Click here to download the Youth and Young Adult Health Survey Report