More than four decades of European cooperation for the health and wellbeing of children, young people and students.

Children and young people’s health has always been at the heart of EUSUHM. Since 1980, the European Union for School and University Health and Medicine has brought professionals together to share knowledge, strengthen prevention and improve health in educational settings.

The challenges have changed. The commitment to working together remains.
A shared purpose, from the beginning
EUSUHM was founded in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on 1 April 1980 by three physicians: Joke Meulmeester from the Netherlands, Marie Lane from the United Kingdom and Helmut Hoffmann from Germany.

Their shared commitment was to improve the health of children and young people. School medicine and school health care formed the foundation, with a focus on school health services, early detection and prevention, health promotion, and health assessment in educational settings.

Knowledge grows through connection
From the outset, EUSUHM set out to connect professionals across Europe and encourage the exchange of knowledge, experience, research and good practice.

The first EUSUHM Congress took place in Amsterdam in 1981. Congresses have since become a lasting part of the network’s life, bringing together professionals working in health care for children, young people and students. They offer space to learn from different systems and bring experience from practice into a wider European conversation.
A changing world. Connected challenges.

The health of children and young people is shaped by life at school, at home, online and in the wider world. Today’s challenges often overlap.

• Life in a digital world: Digital and social media pressures, cyberbullying and online harassment.
• Mental health and safety: Mental health problems, social isolation and family strain, alongside violence, abuse and neglect.
• Fair opportunities: Migration and displacement, social inequality and poverty, educational disadvantage and discrimination.
• Healthy environments: Environmental and climate change, unhealthy lifestyles and commercial pressures.

These challenges extend beyond the traditional boundaries of school medicine. Responding to them calls for cooperation across professions, sectors, communities and countries.
Stronger together

EUSUHM continues to promote European cooperation through a multidisciplinary approach: connecting professionals and communities, translating research into action, and supporting prevention and health promotion.

Children and young people belong in that conversation. They should have a meaningful voice in the services, policies and decisions that affect their health, wellbeing and future.
Young people should help shape the decisions that shape their lives.
Building on more than four decades of cooperation, EUSUHM connects its foundations in school health with the emerging challenges facing new generations.
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