When people hear "Girls on the Run," they often picture a joyful afterschool program where girls train for a 5K while building confidence. And that’s true—we do that. But what fewer people realize is this: the work we’re doing is also a frontline mental health response.

And it’s needed now more than ever.

Let’s start with the reality:
📉 3 in 5 teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021.
That’s a 60% increase since 2011—a staggering rise we can’t afford to ignore. Even more heartbreaking? These feelings of sadness and self-doubt aren’t just showing up in high school—they’re starting in fifth grade and earlier.

We’re watching girls lose confidence before they hit middle school.
We’re hearing them talk about pressure, perfectionism, and feeling like they’re going to “explode.”
We’re seeing them withdraw, shut down, or strive to meet impossible standards just to fit in.

And in Virginia, the odds are stacked even higher. According to Mental Health America, Virginia ranks 48th in the country for youth access to mental health care. That means girls in our region are more likely to need support—and less likely to get it—than almost anywhere else in the country.

💔 The Hidden Impact of Social Media and Loneliness

Many of us didn’t grow up with social media, but today’s girls are navigating constant comparison, filtered beauty, and the pressure to perform online—all while trying to figure out who they are.

Loneliness is on the rise. So is bullying. And yet, only 55% of elementary girls say they have an adult at school they can talk to when they're upset. That number drops as girls get older.

The result? Too many girls feel alone. Too many are hurting in silence.

💡 But Here’s the Good News: Prevention Works

We don’t have to wait until a girl is in crisis to help her. We can build mental health skills before she needs them.

That’s exactly what we’re doing at Girls on the Run.
And in Part 2, I’ll share what real prevention looks like—and how simple, consistent, community-based programs can actually shift the mental health trajectory for girls in Virginia.

Because we’re not just running laps.
We’re running toward resilience, healing, and hope.