If you or a friend need urgent assistance, call 911 immediately, or take your friend directly to the emergency room. If you feel it’s safe, stay with your friend, or find someone to stay with them until help arrives.
GIRLS’ MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE
Understanding the State of Girls’ Mental Health Today & How Caregivers Can Provide Support
The mental health of girls is impacted by all aspects of life. Research done by the CDC in 2023 shows that 57% of girls endorsed feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness compared to 29% of boys. One way to better understand this is to look at the unique factors that impact girls on the internal, social, and societal levels. In this guide, we’ll explore all of this in addition to specific ways to support girls as they manage stressors and make the most of existing strengths. Whether you identify as a girl yourself or are looking to support a girl in your life, you’ve come to the right place.
*A note on terminology: In this guide, we refer to “girl” as anyone who self-identifies as a girl, keeping in mind there are countless ways to exist as a girl. As such, we pull from research on the factors that, overall, tend to impact girls more as compared with similar-age peers.
Created in partnership with the Global Fund for Women’s Mental Health powered by kate spade new york
Internal Forces that Impact Girls’ Mental Health
While girls can experience any mental health condition, these are the ones that tend to impact girls more than their peers:
– Anxiety (more info: ADAA)
– Depression (more info: Child Mind Institute)
– Trauma and PTSD (more info: NIH & ACE Resource Network)
– Body image and eating concerns (more info: The Alliance)
– Self-harm (more info or support: NCHR & SIRA)
*If you or someone you know is experience self-harm or suicidal urges, be sure to call 911, 988, or visit a nearby hospital to get proper care.
Many researchers and scholars believe that girls tend to experience these conditions more often due to societal expectations, norms, and prejudices, like the ones listed in the sections below.
For more information on how these internal forces show up in adulthood, see our Roadmap to Women’s Mental Health.
Relationships shape how we understand ourselves in the world. Girls face unique dynamics with family, friends, and other important figures in the community, like teachers and mentors.
Family
Gender roles and stereotypes come up in subtle ways in family dynamics (e.g., girls doing more chores compared to boys).
(more info: Pew Research)
Peers
Girls are socialized to express anger and jealousy in more relational ways which can lead to bullying online and offline.
Loneliness
Especially in the post-COVID era, loneliness is a social stressor that can impact their sense of connection and confidence.
(more info: Maya Center & Girl Scouts)
Pressure
Girls tend to outperform boys in school which can lead to higher expectations and pressure to overachieve, putting unequal stress and anxiety on girls in school.
(more info: BBC & The Steve Fund)
Responsibility
At home, work, and school, girls are often given more responsibility than their peers. This can add to levels of stress and make it difficult to find time for personal care.
(more info: Georgetown)
Authenticity
Girlhood can look so many different ways; experimenting and finding what feels authentic can be daunting, whether that means exploring gender identity, discovering who you’re attracted to, or playing around to see what hobbies you like.
(more info: CPTC)
Societal Forces that Impact Girls’ Mental Health
It is important to acknowledge the impact of societal forces as they can lead to internal and social hurdles (e.g., beauty standards impact body image, etc.). Though all youth face societal forces that can impact their emotional wellbeing and development, girls are at an increased risk for certain kinds of injustice, such as:
– Gendered stereotypes (more info: VeryWellHealth)
– Overt and covert sexism (more info: Healthline)
– Objectification (more info: VeryWellMind)
– Risks to online and physical safety (more info: DHS)
– Lack of representation in government (more info: Pew Research)
– Limits on reproductive rights & bodily autonomy (more info: World Economic Forum)
– Physical beauty standards & expectations (more info: Unilever)
Many girls hold multiple identities, for instance, racial identity, sexuality, social class, and ability status, all of which could further increase the potential individual, social, and societal forces that girls are up against.
Girls’ Mental Health Strengths
Girls possess many internal strengths that serve them well to both prevent and manage mental health conditions. These include self-reflection, a capacity for play, and creativity.
Girls also have many social strengths. One big one is that they’re encouraged to have deeper friendships with more emotional intimacy and support; this can bolster mental health and promote empathy. Additional social skills include active listening, collaboration, social awareness, and inclusivity.
Girlhood can also provide a space to develop many external strengths, such as self-advocacy, the ability to build supportive environments, and the ability to seek justice for those negatively impacted by societal forces.
how to support girls’ mental health
On an individual level
Listen – Helping girls feel that their voices are heard is important for fostering trust and open communication, and it also allows caregivers to understand what challenges they may be facing in order to provide meaningful support.
Encourage self-care – Self-care is essential for managing stress and promoting emotional wellbeing. You can help by encouraging girls to prioritize their own wants and needs as well as relaxation, practice mindfulness, explore new hobbies, and create an enjoyable self-care routine.
Educate girls about mental health – Understanding mental health allows girls to begin to process their own emotions and communicate them to others. You can teach girls about their mental health by sharing age-appropriate mental health books, modeling self-care, getting them involved in peer support groups, and encouraging self-efficacy and agency.
On an interpersonal level
Promote healthy relationships – Healthy connections promote feelings of validation, support, and self-confidence, which are all protective factors for girls’ mental health. You can promote healthy relationships by showing girls how to recognize harmful relationships, boundary setting, conflict resolution, and creating trust through honesty.
Help foster self-confidence – Self-confidence plays a vital role in fostering resilience and self-reliance, which are factors that support girls’ mental health and wellbeing. You can support girls’ self-confidence by promoting decision-making, trying out activities that interest them, encouraging self-expression, and adapting to change.
Allow space for self-exploration – Adolescence is all about curating identity, which is done through self-expression. You can help boost girls’ confidence by giving them the space and opportunity to learn who they are and want to be.
Reinforce social media boundaries – Encourage girls to take breaks from social media and talk to them about the types of content they are consuming and the impact that social media can have on mental health. You might also help them see that they don’t need to be on social media at all if they don’t want to be.
On a systemic level
Be an advocate – Advocate for the girls in your life by having difficult conversations about mental health with teachers, coaches, family members, and peers’ parents.
Talk about it – Have open conversations about the impact of systemic structures on girls.
Invest in programs that uplift girls – You can invest in programs that support girls through donating, promoting, or volunteering.
Show you care – Demonstrate to the girls in your life that fighting systemic structures that negatively impact girls is important to you.
Provide access to educational resources and mental health services – Ensure that girls have access to the educational and mental health support they may need to succeed. Be sure to check out the mental health and personal development tools we’ve listed below!
Mental Health Resources
Teen Line, a program of Didi Hirsch: Teen Line is an anonymous hotline staffed by teens. Available 6 pm to 10 pm PST or by texting “TEEN” to 839863 from 6 pm to 9pm PST.
Black Girls Smile: Black Girls Smile is an organization dedicated to encouraging positive mental health education, resources, and support geared toward young Black women and girls.
Crisis Text Line: Crisis Text Line is a free, 24/7, confidential support at your fingertips. Text 741741 to be connected to a live, trained Crisis Counselor.
The Jed Foundation: The Jed Foundation is a non-profit organization that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults.
Bring Change to Mind: Bring Change to Mind is an organization aimed at ending the stigma and discrimination around mental illness.
Boris Lawrence Foundation: The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is a nonprofit organization combating mental health stigma in the African American community by providing resources and support.
Girls Inc of NYC: Girls Inc. of New York City is dedicated to empowering girls through research-based programs that foster leadership, mental health, STEM, and college preparation.
London Youth: London Youth is a charity focused on strengthening London’s youth organizations, providing young people with opportunities and skills to succeed through a network of 600 members.
Full Stop Australia: Full Stop Australia is an organization providing 24/7 trauma-specialist counseling, advocacy, and education to support individuals affected by sexual, domestic, and family violence.
Our Minds Matter: Our Minds Matter is a teen-led movement to change the culture around mental health. Our Minds Matter’s vision is a world where no teen dies by suicide.
The Steve Fund: The Steve Fund is an organization promoting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people of color.
Self Injury Recovery and Awareness – SIRA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals recover from self-injury through support groups, education, and resources.
The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people.
Active Minds: Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults.
Therapy for Black Girls: Therapy for Black Girls is an online resource dedicated to providing mental health resources for Black girls and women.
Silence the Shame: Silence the Shame’s mission is to empower and educate communities on mental health and wellness.
The National Alliance for Eating Disorders: The National Alliance for Eating Disorders is the leading national nonprofit organization providing referrals, education, and support for all individuals experiencing eating disorders and their loved ones.
Personal Development Tools
GirlTrek: GirlTrek is a movement promoting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing among Black girls through walking, community organizing, and advocacy.
Girls Who Code: Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization that aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a national organization of local chapters which provide voluntary after-school programs for young people.
Girl Scouts: Girl Scouts is an organization that helps girls discover their strengths, build confidence, and take action in their communities.
Step Up: Step Up is a mentorship nonprofit providing the structure for girls (and those who identify with girlhood) to define their ideal destination and get there — wherever that destination may be.
Girls Inc: Girls Inc. is an organization that offers mentorship and programs aimed at building girls knowledge, skill, and authenticity.
Girls on the Run: Girls on the Run is an organization focused on fostering self-confidence and community through physical activity for girls grade 3-8.
Gurls Talk: Gurls Talk is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy and supporting the wellbeing of adolescent girls and young women through programs, content, and events.
Girls Write Now: Girls Write Now is a diverse, multi-generational, passionate community of writers, creatives, leaders, artists, and activists, offering wellness- and activist-minded curricula, mentorship, friendship, and professional development support.
RES~URCES
Check out the Mental Health Coalition’s Resource Library for additional information on boosting mental well-being.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, use the resources below:
988
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
Crisis Text Line
Text COALITION to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, helping you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
National Sexual Assault Hotline
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. Call their National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
Credit: This Guide was created by Khyia Ward, M.Ed., LAC; Anna Marie Fennell, M.Ed., LMHC; and Naomi Torres-Mackie, Ph.D. for The Mental Health Coalition.
Special thanks to the Global Fund for Women’s Mental Health powered by kate spade new york for funding this important work.
Social Forces that Impact Girls’ Mental Health