In a world increasingly shaped by social media and unrealistic societal expectations, many girls struggle to find their place. This troubling trend is exacerbated by norms equating attractiveness with passivity, hindering girls’ intellectual growth and leadership development and adding fuel to the growing mental health crisis faced by girls in America. Through patch programs, partnerships with local organizations, training, and resources, Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York is committed to providing Girl Scouts, and the volunteers who support them, the tools they need to develop into strong, courageous, young adults ready to rise to any challenge.

Patch Programs

Life isn’t always easy, but dealing with tricky emotions doesn’t have to be so hard. Try activities from the Girl Scouts: Resilient. Ready. Strong. program to unlock a patch and strengthen your mental wellness. Nobody can snap their fingers and make the world all sunshine and lollipops, but you can take steps to be ready when things get tough. Go get ‘em, Girl Scout!

To get your patch complete the requirements for your Girl Scout level HERE.

NEW Mental Wellness Patches

See how Girl Scouts are learning to care for their mental wellness.

Designed for Girl Scouts in 4th to 12th grades, our new mental wellness patches help girls learn about self-care, build healthy habits, safely explore their feelings, and to seek support and resources in a safe and intimate setting. From learning about their emotions (Knowing My Emotions for Juniors), to advocating for themselves (Finding My Voice for Cadettes), and learning to cope with difficult situations (Showing Up For Me and You for Seniors and Ambassadors), Girl Scouts gain the confidence to show their strength. Along the way, they learn what mental health is, how to combat stigma, and how to take care of their own mental wellness as they navigate today's complex and challenging world.

Girl Scout Volunteers: Download the patch program facilitator guides to get your troops started. Detailed choice activities, meeting tools, and additional resources and materials can be found within the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) on my.girlscouts.org

Explore these programs with FREE activities.

Juniors

Knowing My Emotions

Cadettes

Finding My Voice

Seniors & Ambassadors

Showing Up For Me and You

Celebrate YOU in all your individual awesomeness with our Motivational Monday coloring book!

We made this coloring book just for you to celebrate Girl Scout week and as a reminder of how amazing you are. From Daisies to Adults, Girl Scouts make the world a better place every day, for each other, and for their entire communities. That can be hard work, and everyone has days where they don’t feel like sunshine and rainbows. We hope that you will use these pages to remind yourself of how amazing you are, and help you to spread that motivation to the people you care about.

Get the coloring book HERE

Our Partners

GSNENY is pleased to partner with the Mental Health Association of New York State (MHANYS) and the New York State chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI-NYS) to provide connection to resources and training to year-round and summer camp staff, volunteers, caregivers and Girl Scouts.

Whether you're searching for free mental health information, resources, or services, or simply need someone to listen, hold space, and provide emotional support, the team at NAMI-NYS is ready to offer support. You can reach out the NAMI-NYS Helpline by calling or texting (518) 245-9160, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm https://naminys.org/resources/nami-nys-helpline/

Training

Girl Scout volunteers are on the front line of the youth mental health crisis. They're often one of the first people to recognize when a Girl Scout is in need and, as trusted adults, they can contribute to a positive outcome. We're working with our partners to give volunteers, caregivers, summer camp and year-round staff training to support the mental health needs of your people. Check the Events Calendar for more information or choose trainings on demand in GSLearn.

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Youth - Mental Health First Aid

22.06.17_Youth-MHFA-Flier.pdf (mentalhealthfirstaid.org

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.

Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

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teen Mental Health First Aid - Mental Health First Aid - tMHFA « Mental Health First Aid

MHFA_Teen_Flyer.pdf (mentalhealthfirstaid.org)

Adolescence is a time of critical change and development, and the time when mental health challenges may first emerge. Those challenges may be the cause for falling grades, problems with close relationships and substance use. Take comfort knowing that your students will be prepared to provide support for their peers as well as better cope with mental health challenges themselves — and get assistance from a trusted adult.

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Talk Saves Lives TM | AFSP

Talk Saves Lives is 45-60 minute education program that provides participants with a clear understanding of this leading cause of death, including the most up-to-date research on suicide prevention, and what they can do in their communities to save lives.

Participants will learn common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide, and how to keep themselves and others safe. Topics covered include:

Scope of the Problem: The latest data on suicide in the U.S. and worldwide
Research: Information from research on what causes people to consider suicide, as well as health, historical, and environmental factors that put individuals at risk
Prevention: An understanding of the protective factors that lower suicide risk, and strategies for managing mental health and being proactive about self-care
What You Can Do: Guidance on warning signs and behaviors to look for, and how to get help for someone in a suicidal crisis

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We recommend the following on-demand courses available in the GSLearn online learning management systems, available to all Girl Scout Volunteers.

GSUSA the Mental Wellness Patch Program: Why it Matters and How to Implement it.
GSUSA Mental Wellness 101
GSUSA Delivering Inclusive Programming

Navigate to our website www.girlscoutsneny.org and click on MyGS on the upper right hand corner. When you have logged into your account click on “Gslearn”, then click on “Content Library”. You can then search by these course names!

Resources

Mental Wellbeing Factsheet

Want to support your child’s wellbeing? Check these tips out, developed with the National Council on Mental Wellbeing.

YMFA_Family_Tips_One_Pager_v4.pdf (girlscouts.org)

Council Finder

GSNENY Mental Wellness Page