Health promotion in school age children.

Disadvantage in school age affects health during the remaining part of life. Health promotion might alleviate this situation. It is reasonable to focus on mental health, since this is the leading cause of disability adjusted life years lost in this age group and to focus on the school, since this is the most important setting. Co-operation between the public health and the educational sector is rational, yet complicated by different perspectives on knowledge and technology used in these two sectors. It is, however, possible to carry through a dialogue. Then, the public health representatives have to clarify current scientific knowledge on health promotive characteristics of the school. Such characteristics are, enhanced health control at school, aged mixed ability grouping, class sizes of 15-20 students, a task oriented school culture and employment of skills training programmes, e.g. for tobacco deterrence.