RSPH support WHO and UNICEF children’s health strategy with journal edition
Author: RSPH 12 November 2025 1 min read
RSPH have published a special issue in Public Health in Practice in collaboration with WHO Europe to address key areas of children’s health.
RSPH are pleased to support WHO and UNICEF as they launch a new Regional Strategy for Child and Adolescent Health – A Healthy Start for a Healthy Life: A Strategy for Child and Adolescent Health and Well-being (2026-2030).
The strategy will address the unprecedented health challenges faced by children and adolescents across the WHO European Region.
The challenges facing children and adolescents
Mental health affects one in four children under 18 years, and one in three primary school children live with overweight or obesity. In some parts of the WHO European Region, newborn mortality rates are 28 times higher than in countries with the lowest rates.
These challenges have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with reduced access to specialised health care, leaving many children and adolescents facing inadequate care.
How RSPH is supporting the child and adolescent health strategy
In support of the strategy, RSPH have published a special issue in Public Health in Practice in collaboration with WHO Europe to address key areas of children’s health. The issue discusses what policy, action and implementation could be taken in countries across Europe and Central Asia to respond to the challenge of children’s health and wellbeing.
Articles cover a range of topics including:
- Trends in child and adolescent mortality in the WHO European Region
- Children and adolescent mental health
- The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent wellbeing
- Digital screen exposure in infants, children and adolescents
- The health of forcibly displaced children in Europe
- Inequalities in childhood obesity
- The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood development
You can read the articles here.
Across Europe and Centra Asia, humanitarian and geopolitical crises, climate, economic, and post pandemic impacts are having a detrimental effect on children.
Dr Michelle Black, University of Liverpool, Deputy Editor for Public Health in Practice
This means that many children and adolescents are facing difficult circumstances at a life stage which should be about opportunity and hope.
We ask our academic, policy and practitioner readers to consider how best to respond to the challenges outlined in this special issue to galvanise cross-party political action at all levels and harness the hope, health and well-being of children and adolescents.
With action, we can empower a population of young people who are happy, healthy, skilled and prepared for their futures.
The special issue has also been supported by a series of webinars, which are available for free until 31 November 2026. Sign up for free to watch them on RSPHLearn.
After 31 November 2026, the webinars will be available for RSPH Members only. Interested in becoming a member? Find out more about joining.