Youth Health

Promoting health and wellbeing in the youth work sector

National Youth Health Programme

The National Youth Health Programme (NYHP) is a partnership between the National Youth Council of Ireland, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The NYHP is dedicated to developing and promoting a culture within the youth sector which focuses on health and wellbeing by building the capacity of the youth workers and volunteers. NYHP also acts as a conduit between grass roots experience and the development of public policy and national strategy in the area of youth health and wellbeing.

National Health Promotion Strategy

The National Health Promotion Strategy (2000-2005) identified a range of population groups, settings and topics for health promotion action.

This strategy clearly named youth organisations and the out-of-school settings as having an essential role in promoting health with young people.

Youth Health Training

Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion – September 2023 – May 2024

The National Youth Health Programme delivers the Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion in conjunction with NUI Galway every second year. The course aims to encourage, support and facilitate youth organisations to become effective settings for health.

Programme Award: Certificate in Health Promotion (Level 7) – Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion awarded by NUI Galway

Relationship Education and Sexuality Wellbeing in the Youth Work Sector eLearning

This e-learning is a building block for you to strengthen your capacity in supporting young people to develop their sexual health.  

An Introduction to Youth Sexual Health Promotion eLearning

This e-learning is a building block for you to strengthen your capacity in supporting young people to develop their sexual health.  

Wellbeing Hub

If you are a youth worker or work with young people, our wellbeing hub has been developed with your needs in mind.

We’ve developed evidence based, tailored supports for those who work with young people and now we’ve brought these together for you to access in one place, as and when you need them, free of charge.

Health Quality Mark

NYCI has developed the Health Quality Mark (HQ Mark) as a health promotion initiative with a view to enhancing best practice and a high standard of quality in all aspects of health promotion in youth organisations.

The HQ Mark is a set of quality standards in youth health promotion.

Mental Health Signposting

One of the key findings from the Mental Health Needs Assessment, carried out by the National Youth Health Programme, was the need to support organisations, practitioners and young people access appropriate mental health services.

In response to this need a Youth Mental Health Signposting tool was developed.

Youth Health News

Priory Youthreach Tallaght awarded national Health Quality Mark

Priory Youthreach Tallaght was awarded a Silver Standard Health Quality Mark (HQM) by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) in recognition of their work on […]

Limerick Youth Service awarded national Health Quality Mark 

Limerick Youth Service (LYS) was awarded a Bronze Standard Health Quality Mark (HQM)  event by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) in recognition of their […]

Letterkenny Youthreach awarded Bronze Health Quality Mark

Letterkenny Youthreach was awarded a Bronze Standard Health Quality Mark (HQM) by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) in recognition of their work on health promotion […]

Youth Health Publications

Promoting Health in the Youth Sector

Over the past few years, there has been significant developments at policy and strategy levels, both internationally and nationally, which provide a strong rationale for promoting […]

Sense and Sexuality Manual

The aim of the Sense and Sexuality 2.0 support Pack is to provide youth organisations with a comprehensive framework within which to address the issue of […]

Competencies of Sexuality Educators

In 2017, the WHO (World Health Organisations) developed a framework to provide support for sexuality educators when implementing sexual health training programmes. The framework also aims […]