Mental health challenges for young girls, particularly those from minority backgrounds, are a critical issue, yet only 2% of national philanthropic funds are directed toward organizations that serve women and girls, according to a report from The Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
In 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported an alarming rise in girls’ anxiety, depression and suicide ideation rates over the past decade. That research aligns with a University of Chicago Urban Labs study that found that nearly 40% of high school girls in Chicago exhibit signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or trauma-related disorders.
With support from CME Group Foundation, Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation and an anonymous foundation, researchers from Sinai Urban Health Institute heard from nearly 900 middle and high school Chicago girls who provided fresh insights and a deeper understanding into the sources of their struggles - all serving as a starting point for conversations toward actionable change.
The resulting report, “EMPOWER YOUR VOICE: Research Findings on the Mental Well-being of Chicago Girls,” found that Chicago girls had a higher rate of mental health concerns than the national average. According to the press release, four main themes emerged:
- Mental Well-being Concerns: Chicago girls report a high prevalence of depression, anxiety and loneliness symptoms that exceeds national averages. These challenges disproportionately affect Black and Latine girls who are at an increased risk for experiencing multiple stressors that negatively affect mental well-being.
- Social Media’s Dual Impact: Social media has positive and negative effects on adolescent girls. It can create opportunities for connection and self-expression while it can simultaneously contribute to unhealthy coping behaviors and lower self-esteem.
- Trauma and Violence Exposure: Black and Latine girls in Chicago experience disproportionate exposure to trauma and violence with many navigating these experiences without appropriate access to culturally responsive mental health resources.
- Parentification Effects: Black and Latine girls disproportionately assume adult roles and responsibilities that are associated with heightened vulnerability to mental health challenges, including increased risk for anxiety.
CME Group Foundation Executive Director Eva Giglio recalled speaking to a variety of Chicago leaders who all underscored the urgency of addressing girls’ mental health.
A key takeaway from those conversations was a “need for more support, more resources and more attention being paid to the issues our girls are facing,” Giglio said. “This research report, which allowed over 900 Chicago girls to share their experiences, helps provide more context for the statistics we already know.”
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, president and CEO of Sinai Chicago, a healthcare network serving communities on Chicago's west and southwest sides, said the challenges girls in Chicago face “are complex and intertwined, from exposure to trauma to violence to discrimination to social media pressures…but there's also a glimmer of hope that people understand that their mental health is important and are seeking out help."
She spoke at an event with researchers and community members about the report’s findings at Malcolm X College in Chicago.
Ezike said that Sinai Chicago has made behavioral health a core priority by expanding various services to support mental health needs. Despite all the obstacles, mental health professionals remain committed to making this type of care accessible and impactful.
"I have seen firsthand how our caregivers work with passion and dedication to advance health equity and overcome the barriers faced by our communities," she said.
Community Embraces the Research
Keycarlia Fisher, a middle school student, explained why she took part in the research. "I just wanted to express myself, my emotions, my feelings to others, so you can understand me," she said.
The report highlighted that mentorship and peer support play crucial roles in addressing the mental health challenges and loneliness that face girls in the community. Having a safe space to meet and be themselves matters, but there are not enough spaces, particularly on the south and west sides of Chicago, for that to happen, said Camesha Jones-Brandon, LCSW, founder and executive director of Sista Afya Community Care.
“I think that is a really great opportunity to be able to support the girls with what they need, but to also make sure that they’re centered and their voices are uplifted,” she said.
Dr. Melissa Gutierrez-Kapheim, director of health equity research at the Sinai Urban Health Institute, came to a similar conclusion. “The girls in the study offered invaluable insights into their needs and how best to address them,” she said. “They already know what they need—we just have to listen and let them guide our work.”
“Too often adults ignore kids,” said Kamari Lashley, a high school student. "What would I like to see is more listening ears…because certain adults don't want to hear what you have to say and they think their opinion should matter more."
The Work Continues
The panelists were upbeat about the report’s findings, but programming still needs greater financial support, according to Jamila Trimuel, founder and CEO of Ladies of Virtue.
“For years, I have been applauded many times for making a dollar out of 50 cents. But I no longer see that as a compliment. Our girls don’t deserve half of anything! I’m tired of that. They deserve full, transformational investment,” she said.
Trimuel hopes for even more collaboration among girl-serving organizations, funders and corporations in the future. “Prioritize our girls,” she said. “We’re saying exactly what we need.”
You can find the full research report here.
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