The Premier's Healthy Living Award for Youth recognizes the achievements of young Manitobans who are positive role models for other children and youth in promoting healthy lifestyles.
Award applicants will have made an outstanding contribution to their school and/or community in one of the following areas:
Active Living Physical activity increases energy levels, helps us handle stress better, strengthens the heart and lungs, and helps us reach and maintain a healthy body weight – all important aspects of healthy living.
Healthy Eating Healthy eating means choosing wisely when making decisions about what and how much to eat. Eating a variety of healthy foods and the right amount will improve overall health and energy levels. Not only will this help lower our risk for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it can improve our sense of well-being.
Healthy Sexuality Supportive and safe relationships, good self-esteem, gender identity and sexual orientation, knowledge about preventing unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections are some of the many aspects of healthy sexuality.
Mental Health Promotion Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. When people are mentally healthy, they experience satisfaction and purpose in life, productivity, personal growth, physical health and positive personal, family and community relationships. Mental health promotion involves working together to create environments that promote and sustain these features of positive mental health and well-being.
Safety and Injury Prevention Injury, both unintentional and intentional, is a major cause of death, disability and hospitalizations in Manitoba. Aspects include bike safety, farm safety, water safety, suicide, motor vehicle traffic injuries, self-inflicted injuries, falls and fractures, suffocation and choking, and assault.
Substance Use and Addictions The effects of problematic substance use and gambling in Manitoba have far reaching impacts on individuals, families and communities. Making positive choices around misusing substances and problematic gambling is important to balanced healthy living.
Tobacco Reduction One of the best ways to ensure a healthy population in the future, is to ensure that youth do not start smoking. Tobacco is the only consumer product that causes disease, disability, and death when used exactly as intended.