As part of Men's Health Week, professionals from across Lancashire came together recently for The Young Men's Health and Wellbeing Conference.

The conference raised awareness of health issues that relate to young men, explored and challenged the impact that values and beliefs have on young men’s health and identified ways to increase accessibility to education, information, advice and guidance on all aspects of health.

Johnjo O'Connell, a young man currently on the V Talent Programme with Lancashire Young People's Service and also part of the Lancashire Youth Council, officially opened the conference, which was organised by Lancashire Young People’s Service with the support of Central Lancashire PCT and the Youth Offending Service.

Faith Mann, Director of Targeted and Early Intervention at Lancashire County Council, said: "Young men have specific issues around emotional health and wellbeing, relationships and sexual health, as well as being more likely to engage in risky behaviour and ignore any physical health problems they may have. This conference has been hugely significant in bringing professionals together and raising their awareness of how important it is that they engage with young men."

Practitioners who attended made an individual pledge as to how they would implement their learning from the Young Men’s Health & Wellbeing Conference in their w ork with young men, to improve access to health services.