September 20, 2023
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts Prioritizes Mental Wellness with New Programming
Developed in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and HCA Healthcare, and made possible by the HCA Healthcare Foundation, three new patches focusing on mental wellness, resiliency, behavioral issues and healthy habits are now available.
Media Contact:
Stacy Wilbur
Waltham, MA —Today, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts announced the launch of three new mental wellness patches within the Movement's Mental Health Initiative, which was launched in 2021 in response to the mental health crises today's young women face. Designed for girls in grades four through 12, these new patches provide useful tools to help them safely identify and explore their feelings, seek support and find resources for help, if needed.
The patches include:
Knowing My Emotions (Girl Scout Juniors, grades four–five)
This patch program teaches Girl Scout Juniors positive coping skills and how to name their feelings.
Finding My Voice (Girl Scout Cadettes, grades six–eight)
Girl Scout Cadettes learn about stigma, helping friends, how to be mindful on social media and how to practice self-care.
Showing Up for Me and You (Girl Scout Seniors/Ambassadors, grades nine–12)
This patch program equips Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors with tactics for practicing self-care as well as coping mechanisms on how to handle difficult situations for themselves and others.
Each patch program includes an adult facilitator guide to help adults approach girls in a sensitive way, prompt important conversations and guide them through difficult moments. Program materials also contain meeting aids, parent/caregiver resources, teaser activities and marketing tools to equip Girl Scout troop leaders and council staff with support and activities focused on mental wellness, behavioral issues and healthy habits. Resources are also available to the public on the Girl Scout Activity Zone, where people can explore and download free wellness curriculum and activities.
These patches, made possible by the HCA Healthcare Foundation and developed in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the GSUSA Program Advisory Committee, including HCA Healthcare behavioral health experts, are part of GSUSA's continued commitment to providing solutions to the national mental health crises young girls are facing. To date, GSUSA has released research, including Girls Speak Out About Mental Health in 2020, and programming like Resilient. Ready. Strong. and Youth Mental Health First Aid/Mental Wellness 101.
"We are proud to continue partnering with Girl Scouts on this research-based mental wellness program," said Joanne Pulles, vice president of community engagement at HCA Healthcare and president of the HCA Healthcare Foundation. "Girls need support now more than ever, and thanks to the reach of the Girl Scouts model, we know that these resources have the potential to make a positive impact on countless young women."
Studies show that girls are disproportionally affected by the increasing mental health crisis in America and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) data reveals that nearly 90% of parents are prioritizing their child's mental health over academic achievement.
"NAMI is proud to support Girl Scouts' effort to raise awareness for mental health and well-being with the patch program," said NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. "The reach and ability to support girls across age groups with tailored resources and activities is incredibly valuable not only for the girls but also for parents and caregivers. We hope by making it easier to talk generally about mental health with a trusted adult, girls will feel more at ease sharing concerns or asking questions."
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is continuously working to destigmatize mental illness, normalizing conversations around mental health and mental illness, and will continue to develop inclusive programs for Girl Scouts of all backgrounds. To access valuable resources to support girls' mental well-being and join Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscouts.org/mentalwellness.
Girls in grades K–12 can join Girl Scouts any time during the year to begin their Girl Scout journey. As girls grow with Girl Scouts, they learn hands-on leadership skills they’ll use to make their mark through the Gold Award and beyond. To join or volunteer, visit www.gsema.org.
For more information on Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, please visit www.gsema.org, or follow their social media channels, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, for the latest updates on the organization.
About Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA) is 31,500 strong, with 20,000 girls and 11,500 volunteers in 178 communities in eastern Massachusetts, building girl scouts of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. GSEMA is the largest girl serving organization in Massachusetts and the 10th largest Girl Scout council in the United States. Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, join, or learn more, visit gsema.org.
Facebook/Twitter /lnstagram: @GirlScoutsEMass
About HCA Healthcare
Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services comprising 182 hospitals and approximately 2,300 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44%. HCA Healthcare is a learning health system that uses its more than 37 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives.
About NAMI
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation's largest grassroots mental health advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.
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