A few weeks ago, I sat across from one of our Girls on the Run coaches as she shared a story about a girl on her team.
“She’s only 10,” the coach said softly, “and she told me she already feels like she’s not good enough. That she’s not pretty enough. That no one really sees her. She told the group there is nothing positve about her life.”
That moment hit me hard — as a mother, as a woman, and as the Executive Director of Girls on the Run Piedmont.
Because the sad truth is, she’s not alone.
This Mental Health Month, I want to invite you into a conversation we can no longer avoid.
The Numbers We Can’t Ignore
Across the country — and right here in our own community — girls are struggling:
✅ 3 in 5 teen girls report feeling persistently sad or hopeless.
✅ Confidence starts to drop by age 9.
✅ 95% of 5th-grade girls are already using social media.
Girls today are navigating a world that bombards them with impossible standards, constant comparison, and unrelenting pressure.
They’re facing anxiety, burnout, and loneliness — often in silence.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called youth mental health “the defining public health issue of our time.”
And here in Virginia, the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment confirms the trend: rising rates of depression and anxiety among youth, especially girls, and an urgent need for local solutions.
Where Girls on the Run Comes In
At Girls on the Run, we don’t just help girls run.
We help them find their voice, their strength, and their joy — often when they need it most.
🌟 We teach them how to challenge negative self-talk.
🌟 We give them tools to manage emotions and handle stress.
🌟 We surround them with caring coaches who remind them they matter.
And it works.
✅ 95% of girls say they feel more confident because of GOTR.
✅ 86% of caregivers report their girls gained coping skills.
✅ 98% of girls say they feel included and supported by teammates and coaches.
We are part of the public health solution to this crisis — and we need you beside us.
💛 How You Can Help This Week: Join Our Rise & Shine Challenge!
On May 13, 2025, we’re competing in our local giving day’s Rise & Shine Challenge — and we need YOUR help.
Between 6:00–7:00 AM, we’re racing to get the most unique donations.
If we win, we’ll unlock an extra $1,000 prize — funds that will go directly to scholarships, shoes, and mental health resources for girls in our community.
✅ Set your alarm.
✅ Donate even $5 — every unique donor counts!
✅ Help us spread the word by tagging your friends, family, and coworkers.
👉 Donate here: www.givelocalpiedmont.org/gotrpiedmont
👉 Learn more: www.gotrpiedmont.org
🌟 Want to Go Deeper?
I invite you to join me for a Lunch & Learn conversation this June, hosted online in partnership with the Central Rappahannock Regional Library.
We’ll explore the State of the Girl in greater depth — sharing data, stories, and most importantly, hope.
✅ Save the date! https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/events/67f93ddb7374ee901dda5e77
What’s Next
Stay tuned for next week’s post, where we’ll explore how physical activity transforms mental health — especially for girls who’ve never seen themselves as athletes.
Together, we can change the State of the Girl. 🌸