New collection of health resources offers trusted information to students

A new collection of health resources is available to students, offering information they can trust.

The collection has been put together by the Patient Information Forum (PIF) as part of their work within the National Year of Reading to help young people find the information they need to take care of their health at university or college and is endorsed by GPs.

Topics range from sexual health to exam stress and studying with asthma. Other areas covered include meningitis signs and symptoms, health self-checks and returning to university after cancer treatment.

All the resources come from PIF TICK-certified organisations. The PIF TICK is the UK's only quality mark for health information. It shows what you are reading is up-to-date, evidence-based and easy to use and understand.

Sophie Randall, director of the Patient Information Forum, said: “It’s clear there is a pandemic of misinformation. It’s harder than ever to know what information to trust online.

"For students away from home for the first time, it can be even more tempting to turn to social media or AI. That is why we created this collection with our PIF TICK-certified members so they could access information which is trusted, evidence-based and easy to use and understand."

Dr Sylvia Kama-Kieghe is the latest healthcare professional to become an ambassador for the PIF TICK. She has 2 videos in the collection: 1 about delayed periods after the morning-after pill, and the other explaining the anatomy of the vulva.

Dr Sylvia says: "Too many young people are left anxious or misinformed about their own bodies. Access to trusted, accurate and relatable health information changes that – it's the difference between fear and confidence when someone is empowered to advocate for their own care. That's what the PIF TICK stands for, and why I'm proud to support it."

Chief Executive at Meningitis Now Dr Tom Nutt added: "For young people, having access to trusted health information can make a real difference. When it comes to meningitis, knowing the signs and symptoms and understanding when to seek urgent medical attention could save a life.

"We’re proud to carry the PIF TICK certification and PIF's new collection is a valuable way of making reliable, evidence-based information easier for students to find and understand, at a time when they are increasingly making important decisions about their own health."

The project, which aims to boost young people's health literacy, is being delivered in support of the National Year of Reading.

The new collection of resources is available on the PIF TICK website. It is being launched by the PIF team at the University of Roehampton's main Freshers' Fair on Tuesday 22 September.

Charities involved in the new collection:

• Asthma and Lung UK
• CoppaFeel!
• Crohn's and Colitis UK
• Epilepsy Society
• Marie Curie
• Migraine Trust
• Mind
• Meningitis Now
• Rethink Mental Illness
• Robin Cancer Trust
• Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Terrence Higgins Trust

You can view the collection on the PIF TICK website.