The Challenge 

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Since the end of 2021, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Surgeon General have issued alarming reports indicating that teen girls are facing a mental health crisis.

According to the CDC:

• 3 in 5 teen girls are persistently sad or hopeless.

• 1 in 3 have seriously considered killing themselves.

• 1 in 5 have experienced sexual violence in the past year.

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The U.S. Surgeon General found that the emergency room visits for mental health issues increased. ER visits for suicide attempts rose 51% for adolescent girls in early 2021 compared to 2019, while rates increased by 4% for boys.

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Our Response

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Our digitized mental health program, Mind Body Matters, promotes awareness about the impact emotional trauma can have on the physical—as well as mental—well-being of girls, families, and communities. This program is a toolkit for delivering mental health programming to girls ages 10 - 18. Facilitators teach a culturally responsive and evidence-based curriculum that focuses on the wellness of both the mind and the body, and teaches the building blocks of trauma-informed coping strategies through four pillars of care:

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1. Mindfulness: Students learn how to be present in the moment while calmly acknowledging our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment. They practice mindfulness through breathing, meditation, guided visualizations, grounding exercises, and exploring the five senses.

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2. Movement: Students work to increase body awareness and body gratitude through movement-based activities such as yoga, dance, stretching, and exercise. 

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3. Creativity: Students utilize art-based, hands-on activities to learn how to explore their identity and express their feelings through creative outlets.

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4. Connection: Students learn to build a system of support by exploring healthy relationships, developing helpful communication strategies, and connecting with one another in positive ways.

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The program breaks down stigma and misconceptions about mental health to create a safe environment for students to share and process their emotions and seek help if mental health challenges arise.

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Amplifying the program

Aside from delivering the program directly to students, we also provide educators throughout NYC with the tools to create a safe space for students to connect and grow.​

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Highlights

• 5000+ girls girls have received Mind Body Matters Mental Health programming throughout NYC

• 110+ school partners have received free and accessible mental health training and curriculum for grades 5 to 12

• 100% representation of Mind Body program across all five NYC Boroughs

• Middle school students reported eating healthier and exercising more than before the pandemic.

• 43% of participants indicated they would access resources when in emotional distress*

• Teachers and counselors have shared that through the Mind Body Matters program, they have been able to create an important space for students to have the opportunity to process difficult feelings, explore healthy coping strategies, connect to their peers, and advocate for themselves.

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*based on data collected from the 2021-2022 school year