About Planet Youth Ireland

Planet Youth Ireland is an initiative designed to promote wellbeing and improve outcomes for our young population. Supported by Planet Youth ehf in Reykjavik, it is based on the Icelandic Prevention Model and uses a “ground-up” evidence-based approach whereby local regions enter into a process with researchers, local governmental agencies, the education sector, and young people themselves. These regions conduct a detailed standardised survey, adapted to the Irish context , with adolescents (post-Junior Cert) every 2 years in over 150 schools and Youthreach centres across Ireland (>15,000 adolescents).

The results of these surveys are then used to inform evidence-based interventions at local levels through collaborative and joined up working of agencies and sectors. this evidence is also being used to design and implement interventions to reduce substance-use and improve health outcomes among our youth.

These programmes have been initiated and developed with the support of partner agencies in the area. Local steering committees have been established for each of the sites and these consist of funders and strategic partners, all of whom are committed to the development of Planet Youth Ireland in their region.

There are currently 12 counties conducting Planet Youth surveys around Ireland. Click here to find your nearest site.

Origins

The Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) is an evidence-based primary prevention model developed by a coalition of stakeholders that included prevention practitioners, politicians and scientists. It was initially developed in order to reduce substance use rates amongst young people. The Icelandic model is based on the collaboration of numerous parties, e.g. parents, teachers, community centres, sports clubs and more in the immediate vicinity of children and young people. The model uses a whole population approach and offers the opportunity to improve health and life outcomes for young people in many areas. It works by directly targeting the risk and protective factors that determine their substance use behaviours and enhancing the social environment they are growing up in. By reducing the known risk factors and strengthening the known protective factors the problems associated with adolescent substance use can be reduced or stopped before they arise. The IPM is currently being adapted for local implementation in many countries around the world.

Data

The model is underpinned by data derived from the administration of the Planet Youth Ireland questionnaire. This comprehensive lifestyle questionnaire is completed by post Junior Certificate students in schools and YouthReaches in the targeted communities. It examines a great many aspects of their lives across five domains: Community, Family, School, Substance Use, Leisure.

The data from the surveys is analysed and presented with the goal of providing each community with the information that will enable them to develop date-driven interventions designed to address selected risk and protective factors. The full dataset from the survey is available to the steering committees for research purposes and for use in designing responses to other issues identified within the data. This is decided upon by each steering committee. The Planet Youth Ireland data allows the opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of our young people and to improve the social environment they are growing up in.

Additionally, each school of sufficient size that takes part in the survey is provided with a copy of their own school report that gives an insight into the general health and wellbeing of their pupils, together with other particular factors of interest at school level.