Abstract
Statement of Problem
Suicide rates are at an all-time high. According to new data published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 60% of teen girls report feeling persistently sad or hopeless (CDC, 2023). Also, social media is designed to be addicting and it is an outlet for comparison and can promote lower self-esteem, a negative self-image, peer pressure, etc. To top everything off, teen dating violence statistics are rising as one in three girls in the United States report being a victim of physical, emotional, and verbal abuse from their dating partner. Today’s teen girls are experiencing very specific interpersonal factors that have the power to alter the way they perceive themselves and the world around them, but school-based emotional wellness programs for girls are scarce. The average therapy session with a licensed professional cost anywhere from $100 up to $250 or more. While sixty percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, most people are unable to afford luxuries like therapy for themselves let alone their families. Schools employ social workers and counselors to assist with providing students an outlet when they need it, however, at many schools, it can be challenging for students to get in to be seen by a school counselor. The state’s average student-to-counselor ratio is more than twice the recommended ratio of 601 to one (Newberry, 2021). Girls are not shown how to develop healthy self-esteem, build resilience, or build confidence. Schools place weight on academic achievement but do not focus enough on the skills adolescent girls need to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Sources of Data
A variety of tools such as books, websites, and research articles were utilized for research purposes for this project. Databases such as JSTOR and Google Scholar were also explored.
Conclusions Reached
The purpose of this project is to provide high school girls with the free self-love workshop, I Am My Own #Goals. The program will weave the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) fundamentals, health and wellness information, and therapeutic practices into an eight-week workshop designed to empower high school girls to cultivate self-love, take responsibility for their lives, and become strong and confident young women.