Abstract
World Youth Day is the largest youth festival in the world1 and the most recent of these mass gatherings was held in Madrid from August 15-21 2011. While there is comprehensive information regarding the medical management of such events, documented information is lacking regarding their mental health service needs and preparedness. Data from the Sydney event (WYD08) showed that mental health presentations featured in both hospital and on-site medical unit service provision, although at significantly lower rates than for physical health presentations. A range of 'protective' factors including climate, location and pre/intra event mental health advice are likely to have contributed to this outcome. Lessons learned from WYD08 regarding this risk group can be applied to similar large scale events where a significant lead time is available.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 48-53 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Australian Journal of Emergency Management |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Keywords
- Sydney (N.S.W)
- World Youth Day
- mental health
- youth