Upcoming Leavers Week prompts call for parents to have ‘the talk’

Leaver’s Week is a fun environment where young people can celebrate achievement, independence and freedom. However, in this carefree atmosphere it can be easy to make decisions they may later regret, including about sex.

While it might seem like teenagers know a lot about sex, they often have questions, and may even be feeling nervous or unsure. Research shows that when it comes to finding out about sexual health, young people nominate their parents, particularly their mother, as a source of information which is both readily available and trustworthy.

WA Health’s Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program Manager, Lisa Bastian, said that talking to teenagers about sex could help them feel prepared, and less likely to make risky decisions on the spur of the moment.

“Research tells us that kids whose parents talk with them about sex and relationships often have sex at an older age, and make safer choices, than kids who are left to find out for themselves,” she said.

“While young people become more influenced by their peer group as they get older, family beliefs and values form an important part of how they identify themselves, so be clear about your own principles and moral perspectives.”

When people have unplanned sex, they are less likely to use condoms, which can result in unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

It’s important to give advice and offer support at the same time as showing confidence that they can weigh up different points of view and make good decisions about their own health.

WA Health’s Get the Facts website (external site) is a resource developed for young people with advice and information about sexual health and relationships, including sex, alcohol and other drugs, information about sexually transmitted infections, myths and misconceptions and more.

For more information visit Get the Facts (external site) and Healthy WA.