Working differently for improved primary care for young people in a difficult financial climate

In an environment of growing relative poverty, rising inequalities, high housing and living costs, increases in in-work poverty and cuts to social security, education, training and young people's services, GPs in the UK are often faced with patients who present with ‘low mood’ caused by adverse life circumstances. Many GPs have dubbed this ‘Shit-Life Syndrome’. This presentation considers the potential of three different projects being delivered or evaluated by the Centre for Health Service Studies to build understanding of the complex and dynamic ways in which these issues are interconnected. These projects include: ‘RISKIT’ – a ‘multi-component’ approach to addressing alcohol and substance use and risk-taking behaviour among young offenders; ‘Go Golborne’ – a ‘place-based’ approach to improving child health by reducing child obesity; and ‘EXCEPT’ – policy initiatives to help young people in Europe to overcome labour market insecurities and related risks. Together they present opportunities to reject reductionism in our approaches to dealing with complexity.