The Girl Scouts of Orange County is taking action to address what it calls a growing mental health crisis among teenage girls by offering mental health first aid training and counseling for Girl Scouts at no cost.
Just as Mental Health Awareness Month kicked off, the county’s Girl Scouts hosted its 12th annual Voice for Girls advocacy event on Friday, May 5, featuring a panel discussion of mental wellness and sustainable action projects launched to help others overcome mental health issues.
Girl Scouts of Orange County CEO Vikki Shepp emphasized that “in this ever-changing, post-pandemic world, Girl Scouts of Orange County is committed to providing our girls with what they need to build courage, confidence, character, and resiliency. These have been tough times for everyone, especially for young women.”
“With our Voice for Girls forum, our aim is to keep the conversation of wellness going and to spark action or change in the workplace—so as our girls grow up and enter the workplace, they have the resources needed to thrive and to be the amazing leaders who will make the world a better place,” Shepp continued.
During the panel discussion, Alianna Oliveira, a Dana Point resident and Girl Scout Ambassador with Troop 2164, was one of four Scouts addressing 250 business and community leaders in attendance. Oliveira spoke about her “Wellness Toolkit,” which she created after she lost three friends to suicide.
Oliveira created the Wellness Toolkit as her Girl Scout Gold Award Project in honor of her three friends, initially intending for the toolkit to be used by middle schoolers.
The Capistrano Unified School District approved using Oliveira’s toolkit for kindergarten through eighth-grade students and will be used by the St. Edward the Confessor Parish School in Dana Point, Oliveira said.
Aiming to provide students with healthy strategies and tools, the Wellness Toolkit includes journaling, positive affirmations, breathing and stretching exercises, quotes, stress ball activities, mindfulness, relaxing music, a resource page and more.
“During these challenging times, I really think it’s important to feel safe in reaching out to help when you are struggling,” Oliveira said during the panel.
Mari Edler, the Ladera Valley Girl Scout Ambassador with Troop 2428, spoke on the panel with Oliveira about her art therapy workshop, “Mari’s Mindful Masterpieces.” Edler created the art therapy workshop to help children struggling through the pandemic.
Kayla Kashima, Girl Scout ambassador with Troop 881 in Anaheim, spoke on the panel about her understanding of the importance of exercise to boost mental wellness as a lifelong athlete. Kashima partnered with Irvine-based Pretend City Children’s Museum to create an exercise workshop to teach children how to have fun while exercising.
Girl Scout Alum from Laguna Hills Troop 775 and current UCLA student Lani Jacobson started the mentor program “Hawk Mentors,” in which high school students educate elementary school students on topics related to mental health. During the Voice for Girls event, Jacobson spoke on the panel about her mentorship program.
Starting immediately, the Girl Scouts of Orange County has partnered with Irvine-based OMID (Multicultural Institute for Development) to offer free, short-term mental health care services for Girl Scouts. As the partnership is meant to aid with short-term mental health concerns, OMID will connect Girl Scouts with other available resources if long-term help is needed.
Through the Girl Scouts of Orange County website, parents, volunteers and troop leaders can request an appointment for any registered Orange County Girl Scout. Girl Scouts will now have access to a maximum of eight 50-minute sessions, which can be either one-on-one or for an entire troop. The sessions may be conducted in person or via video conference.
The Girl Scouts of Orange County provides the services at no charge and is funded by a Girl Scout grant that the O.L. Halsell Foundation provided.
Starting in June, Girl Scout volunteers will also be able to sign up for a low-cost, two-part Mental Health First Aid Training program designed for adults who work with youth. The Mental Health First Aid Training led by Girl Scouts of Orange County staff facilitators teaches a five-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
To reach the suicide and crisis lifeline and connect with a trained crisis counselor, call 988.
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