By Saanvi and Jazmine, Girl Up USA Youth Advisors
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis of 2021 data from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness among teenage girls increased from 36 percent in 2011 to 57 percent in 2021, as reported by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Additionally, nearly 1 in 3 girls, or 30 percent, seriously considered attempting suicide, an increase of nearly 60 percent over the past decade.
“I’ve talked to thousands of girls around the country, and they tell me that they feel like their lives today are one endless performance,” says Donna Jackson Nakazawa, author of Girls on the Brink: Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Social Media. “They are performing to be liked and followed online, they are performing at school, and they are exhausted.” Girls’ mental health and safety are directly linked and must be addressed together.
Here at SafeHER, we do not sugarcoat reality. Girls’ lack of safety and security is not rare or isolated. Safety includes both physical and emotional well-being. “Girl Up USA defines safe places as physical or virtual environments where girls, women, and youth can seek support to fully develop their strengths while overcoming gender barriers that limit access to education, work, and health care. Embracing girls’ feedback, elevating their voices, and prioritizing overall wellness are central to everything we do.
When girls feel unsafe due to violence, discrimination, household stress, bullying, or other pressures, their mental health suffers. Understanding the root causes of poor mental health and how threats to safety undermine girls’ well-being is critical if we want to support them effectively.
According to UCLA Health, poor mental health in girls stems from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors, with key drivers including intense societal and academic pressures, the influence of social media, and higher exposure to trauma and violence.
Reflecting on these statistics, how can we support girls’ mental health and create meaningful change? There are concrete actions we can take, both as a society and individually, to address this growing crisis.
Here are 3 steps for a Mental Health & Crisis Support Guide:
- Recognize signs you need help – Emotions signal when something is wrong; identifying your emotions can help you understand your mental health. Emotions are like your body’s internal alarm system; they often notice danger or discomfort before you even realize it fully. Some key emotional signs to pay attention to are: feeling pressured, a sense of being watched, feeling small or powerless, and feeling uneasy.
- Be aware of how to ask for support safely and confidently – Always keep a mental list of the individuals you trust and know you can turn to for support. Some common places for support are local crisis hotlines, school counselors, and online resources with 24-hour services. For example, the Trevor Project hotline & 988 are suicide hotlines that can be used via text or phone call. Additionally, remember to identify key reasons to continue going. Such as pets, key family members, friends, religion, and spirituality, which make up your intersectional identity.
- Note detailed information on the nearest safety points – In cases where emotions continuously worsen, it is important to know of safe spaces that will act as points of care for your safety. If emotions are starting, think of a close friend or family member’s house where you can regulate your emotions or gather the support of a connection. It is advised to always include a collection of detailed information about the nearest hospital in case symptoms become more severe. Know that it is always better to have these safety points in mind than to be unsure in the moment that emotions arise.
- Build your personal safety plan – Everyone goes through difficult times when they feel overwhelmed, and during these times, it can be difficult to address these emotions. Creating a safety plan can help you through these difficult times. Think of it as your emotional emergency toolkit. Firstly, it can be helpful to create a list of “safe” people, individuals whom you feel comfortable with and know you can trust. Second, identify your comfort strategies. These strategies include breathing and grounding exercises, listening to a calming playlist, going for a walk, or any other activity that relaxes your nerves. Be sure to identify what works best for you. Third, identify your safe spaces where you feel calm and judgment-free. Lastly, ensure you have crisis contacts such as a trusted adult, a school counselor or nurse, and your local crisis number.
Girls’ mental health is a growing issue that deserves urgent attention. As the Children’s Mental Health Office states, “Helping adolescents develop coping skills to manage stress, understand emotions, and foster positive relationships benefits their mental health in both the short term and the long term.”
At Girl Up, we encourage you to stand against these injustices and stand with others to help make the world safer and healthier for all girls.
Thank you for reading the second volume of the SafeHER Digest! Let’s keep the conversation going. Spread the word. Share the strength. Stay SafeHER.
Works Cited
Martínez, Karen. “Are the Kids Really Alright? Troubling Headlines, Teenage Girls, and Declining Mental Health | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA.” Are the Kids Really Alright? Troubling Headlines, Teenage Girls, and Declining Mental Health, 20 Apr. 2023,
Cohen, Sandy. “Girls are struggling with their mental health. Here’s what parents can do.” UCLA Health, 3 April 2024,
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/girls-are-struggling-with-their-mental-health-heres-what.
“Improving Girls’ Mental Health.” Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health, children.wi.gov/Documents/ResearchData/OCMH Fact Sheet_August 2023_Girls Mental Health.pdf.
“Girl Up.” Girl Up, 2019, community.girlup.org/page/girl-up-glossary.
