Unfortunately, it came as no surprise to us when Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey data — and then the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Behavior Risk Survey — reported alarming findings on the state of youth mental and behavioral health in our state. It’s evident in the data, as well as in our work with youth, that young people across Maine are struggling.

Nearly one in two high school girls in Maine feels persistently sad or hopeless. Around one in 10 girls in both middle and high school attempted suicide in the last year. Fewer than half of girls in Maine feel they matter to their community. And across all of these measures, these negative feelings only increase for girls of color, as well as queer and trans students. vasara/Shutterstock.com

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Adrienne Carmack is executive director of Hardy Girls, a Maine-based organization that serves girls and nonbinary youth statewide with supportive programming. Kate Elmes is chair of Maine’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and director of development of Trekkers, a youth-development organization based in Rockland that cultivates the strengths of young people through long-term mentoring. 

IF YOU NEED HELP

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this commentary, call the Maine crisis hotline at 888-568-1112 or text or call the national crisis line at 988.

But what really rang the alarm bells for us were the data’s gender disparities across measures of mental health. Nearly one in two high school girls in Maine feels persistently sad or hopeless — double the rate of boys. Around one in 10 girls in both middle and high school attempted suicide in the last year — again, around double the rate of boys. Fewer than half of girls in Maine feel they matter to their community. And across all of these measures, these negative feelings only increase for girls of color, as well as queer and trans students.

Our organizations know we will not solve this public health crisis without centering and amplifying the voices of those most affected. And it’s not just us; years of research show that engaging youth in systemic decision-making processes results in more effective policies and positive youth development outcomes.

To that end, we asked girls and nonbinary youth from our organizations, Hardy Girls and Trekkers, what adults need know about this mental health crisis. Here are some of their replies.

• “Just because things were different for (adults) when they were kids doesn’t mean it’s not difficult now — we’re from different times and we both have gone through different things.” — Kaileigh, 13, Rockland

• “When I began struggling with mental health issues, I felt I couldn’t talk about my experience because I knew my peers would start telling me how it could be worse. Comparing situations, especially those surrounding mental health, is so common among young people, and it makes people afraid to speak up.” — Elise, 17, Hallowell

• “Female-identifying youth in our communities have been struggling for years, and people are just now seeming to notice. We’ve been asking for change for years, and hopefully we can finally start to see some action being taken.” — India, 16, Waterville

• “I just want adults to *listen* to kids and take them seriously. There have been so many times when we’ll bring up something and adults will belittle it because they don’t understand. It’s very frustrating.” — Lulu, 15, Rockport

• “Remember that girls are still girls. Although society puts pressure on us to mature quickly, that doesn’t mean we will know all the answers to our mental health struggles. Be patient with us and listen when we ask you to lend us an ear.” — Layla, 17, Orneville Township

When processing the latest data, it is crucial to remember that girls are not the problem; instead, we urge you to consider that girls are the solution. As we examine the cultures and systems that are failing our girls, we must look to youth voices to lead us and point the way forward. 

So what can we do? It may seem obvious, but simply and genuinely listening to the young people in your life can have a profound impact.

Schools, municipalities and organizations can give young people a seat at the table with youth advisory boards and designated board seats (Maine Youth Action Network is a great resource on this). And we can all play a role in challenging systems that devalue youth voices.

This data is devastating. But every day we work with brilliant, resilient girls and youth who are brimming with ideas and solutions. They are the people best positioned to steer our communities through this crisis of youth mental health in Maine. Our role is to ensure they have the tools, support and megaphones necessary to do it. Ultimately, and importantly: The future is in good hands.