Prioritizing Mental Health: Strumming for Wellness

I recently posted about my journey with therapy, mental health, and work. I believe mental health is as important as physical health, and parents across the country agree. Did you know that 90 percent of parents are now prioritizing their child's mental health over academic achievement? Girl Scouts are stepping up to help.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I am proud to share that Girl Scouts is a place where our young members find emotional support. At Girl Scouts of Central Texas, we recognize that supporting girls’ well-being extends beyond physical health to encompass emotional resilience and self-care. Mental health awareness is a cornerstone of our mission to empower girls to become confident, courageous leaders.

• 78% of Girl Scouts say because of Girl Scouts, they feel good about themselves.
• 64% of Central Texas caregivers say being a Girl Scout contributed to their child’s happiness.
• 52% of Central Texas caregivers say being a Girl Scout contributed to their child’s emotional well-being.

A recent study conducted by Girl Scouts of the USA found that approximately one-third of kids are dealing with heightened anxiety levels today. Youth identify mental health as an issue for their generation, as exemplified by local Girl Scout Mia’s Gold Award project, in which Mia leveraged the transformative impact of music to improve mental wellness. Mia's project, "Six Strings to Happiness: How Learning Guitar Can Positively Impact Your Mental Health," beautifully connects music with improved mental health for young people.

Through her initiative, Mia orchestrated a recurring, free guitar camp where she not only taught music skills but also emphasized the benefits music can have on mental well-being. Research underscores that performing music can lead to improved emotional balance and cognitive abilities, especially in young individuals. By helping to engage youth with music, Mia helped to foster creativity, reduce stress, and enhance mood. Her interest in this topic demonstrates how young people today recognize mental health as a problem that needs to be addressed.

In this spirit, I am excited to share our commitment to mental wellness through the Girl Scouts Mental Wellness Patch Program. This initiative promotes conversations and actions around mental health, encouraging girls to explore strategies for self-care and emotional well-being.

Girl Scouts is expanding the Mental Wellness Program with the introduction of three mental wellness patches made possible by HCA Healthcare Foundation and developed in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Knowing My Emotions, Finding My Voice, and Showing Up For Me and You, mental wellness patches designed for girls from fourth grade through high school.

This patch has quickly become one of our most popular programs, showing the need for and enthusiasm around activities tied to mental wellness. With 20 activities tied to social-emotional skills like sharing emotions, connecting with friends, finding meaning, and more. For more information on the patch please visit our page here.