October 16, 2006

A very unique launch accompanied The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s annual Report to the Community today.  It took place in a local theatre.  The 2006 Report to Community is in a multi-media report, consisting of 5 video spots & a web-based information component. 

“Research has shown that young people are receptive to innovative forms of communication; youth respond to internet and TV. Research also shows that youth respond best to messages from other youth,” says Dr. Nancy Cameron, Medical Officer of Health for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “This report has been produced in a format that illustrates all of these concepts. This project is a great example of the success you can have when you give youth a real role in something that adults typically do for them.”

The report is unique in that that local youth were involved in every stage of the report creation and that it covers more program areas than the Health Unit has ever tackled in one single report to the Community.

Many of the Public Health mandates have a component that applies to youth.  And youth are a very significant portion of our community numbering about 15,000 in the district.  Much of the disease and death during adolescence is related to unhealthy or risk-taking behaviours. As youth grow, many of the behaviours and attitudes they start during adolescence continue into adulthood.  This has a far reaching impact in all of our society.

The report is designed to provide video components and links to more in depth research than a standard printed report can provide.  The report will be ‘showing’ in Health Unit offices across the district in the next month, and posted online in the reports section of http://www.tbdhu.com/Resources/Reports/R2C/.

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