Helping Immigrant Teens Navigate Health Challenges

The Challenges Faced by Immigrant Teens

Immigrant teens face significant hurdles when it comes to learning about their bodies and making healthy choices. Society's attitudes and cultural beliefs often make it harder for them to access the support they need.

The Role of Mobile Apps

Mobile apps can offer crucial support and information tailored to their unique situations. One such app, MyPeer, was developed with input from immigrant teens to provide reliable and relevant sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education.

Why Involvement Matters

• Most apps in Canada do not involve immigrant youth in their design.
• Including their voices makes these apps more effective and useful.

The Importance of SRH Education

• Teens need good SRH education to grow into healthy adults.
• Immigrant teens face even greater struggles in accessing this information.
• Mobile apps can bridge this gap by providing a safe and private space for learning.

The Need for Better Design

• Not all apps are created equal—some are more useful than others.
• The key is ensuring these apps are designed with user input.
• MyPeer is a step in the right direction, but more work is needed.