School is more than a place to learn: An intersectoral assessment of adolescent well-being prior to and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the WHO European Region
13:00 - 14:00 GMT, Wednesday 18th June 2025
Chaired by: Professor Ingrid Wolfe OBE, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Population Health, Consultant Paediatric Population Medicine, Kings College, London
Speakers:
- Dr. Nicola Gray, Co-Chair, UNESCO Chair ‘Global Health & Education’
- Mary Cronin, Specialty Registrar in Public Health
- Dr. Maximilian Limburg, Specialty Registrar in Public Health
A webinar supporting the development of a new WHO/UNICEF regional strategy for Child and Adolescent Health in Europe and Central Asia, as part of our Public Health in Practice Special Issue
This webinar will present a research study that examined changes in adolescent well-being across the WHO European Region following the Covid-19 pandemic. Adolescent well-being was assessed using the UN H6+ framework, which includes: 1) Good health and optimal nutrition, 2) Connectedness, positive values, and societal contribution, 3) Safety and a supportive environment, 4) Learning, competence, education, skills, and employability, and 5) Agency and resilience. Secondary analysis of data from two large datasets concerning adolescents, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Survey and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), revealed a decline in well-being across European countries from 2018 (pre-pandemic) to 2022 (post-pandemic). Additionally, the study highlighted a significant widening of educational inequalities in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Key Issues for Debate:
- How can we prevent existing inequalities in educational attainment from widening?
- How can we improve our data collection strategies about school closure impact for future health crises?
- What would an intersectoral strategy on adolescent well-being look like, to minimize the impact of future emergency measures?
Image used from PMNCH (Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health)
Chair: Professor Ingrid Wolfe OBE, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Population Health, Consultant Paediatric Population Medicine, Kings College, London
Speakers:
Dr. Nicola Gray, Co-Chair, UNESCO Chair ‘Global Health & Education’
Nicola is Reader in Medicines and Health at the University of Huddersfield. She is a pharmacist by training, with expertise in children and young people’s health, and research interests in health literacy and lifelong health learning pathways. She brings professionals together to explore opportunities for better intersectoral working across health and education to promote well-being in schools.
Mary Cronin, Specialty Registrar in Public Health
Currently based at the Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool. Mary has previous experience working in local government and with the Field Epidemiology Service at Public Health England (now part of the UK Health Security Agency). She has a strong interest in the role of policy in reducing health inequalities.
Dr. Maximilian Limburg, Specialty Registrar in Public Health
Max is an Honorary Research Associate, based at the Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool. His perspective is shaped by his background in clinical medicine and public health practice in local government. He is passionate about understanding inequalities faced by young people and the impact on their aspirations, as well as utilising the benefits of international public health collaboration.