Abstract:

Th increasing orientation of adolescents towards social contracts outside their families makes them organise in peer groups and subcultures which provide the space to act out generational concerns collectively. For some young poeple, the hospital setting is an environment in which they find themselves repeatedly. People usually decide to enter environments that are relevant to them. However, in hospital, there are usually few familiar artifacts and the patient has little choice about being there. During adolescence the struggle for autonomy is at its peak. The hospital system demands of young people a passive and vulnerable role in which feelings of helplessness are exacerbated. In order to continue development in a hospital, young people need appropriate spaces. A youth ward is due to be established at the Childrens Hospital in Sydney and is an acknowledgement that teenage patients support each other and recive better and more comprehensive care when grouped together. The OT approach discussed in this article, recognises how important environment is in the healthy development of young people.