Outcome: Happy and healthy

This means:

• they have the best possible health, starting before birth
• they build self-esteem and resilience
• they have good mental wellbeing and recover from trauma
• they have spaces and opportunities to play and express themselves creatively
• they live in healthy, sustainable environments.

The key to happy and healthy children and young people is strong, healthy connections to people who love and nurture them.

Good parental mental health is important during and after pregnancy, so parents can establish a deep and loving connection with their baby.

Children and young people also need time and spaces just to be themselves, to play, explore and create. Good physical, spiritual and mental health are critical to achieving other aspects of wellbeing, such as development milestones, the ability to participate in activities and benefit from learning, positive social interactions and developing resilience. 

Have all schools linked to mental health care because depression and bullying play a big role in everyday life.

Focus and key actions

Government is prioritising work to improve youth mental wellbeing, the maternity system, and support in the early years.

Government’s actions under this outcome include: 

• Improving maternity and early years support
• Inspiring active, healthy and creative children and young people
• Increasing support for mental wellbeing

Indicators

Indicators are used to measure the outcomes in the most direct and simplest way possible. The specific indicators that are relevant to this outcome are:

• Prenatal care
• Prenatal exposure to toxins
• Subjective health status
• Preventable admissions to hospital
• Mental wellbeing
• Self-harm and suicide

You can learn more about these measures on the Indicators page.