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: 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.

Because we’re not just running laps.

We’re running toward resilience, healing, and hope.

What Is Prevention in Mental Health?

When we hear “mental health,” we often think of crisis response—therapy, diagnoses, or treatment plans. Those things matter deeply. But true mental wellness starts much earlier.

According to Voices for Virginia’s Children, prevention in schools looks like this:

Programs that build coping skills
Safe spaces where students feel seen and supported
Opportunities for youth to connect, reflect, and grow socially and emotionally

These are called Tier 1 supports—universal strategies that benefit all students, not just those in visible distress.

And that’s exactly where Girls on the Run comes in.

How Girls on the Run Delivers Tier 1 Support

At Girls on the Run, we use running games and group discussion to teach what every young person needs:

How to manage strong emotions
How to set boundaries
How to resolve conflict
How to make intentional decisions
How to believe in their own worth

Our coaches don’t just supervise—they mentor, connect, and model emotionally healthy behavior. And our curriculum doesn’t just entertain—it’s built on research, structure, and heart.

Here’s what our most recent survey showed:

🧠 92% of girls said they learned skills to manage big feelings
💬 86% of caregivers said their child handles stress better
❤️ 98% of girls said they felt like they belonged

In a world where so many girls feel unseen or under pressure, belonging is prevention.

Prevention Is More Than a Buzzword—It’s a Lifeline

As school districts, lawmakers, and communities scramble to address the youth mental health crisis, we often hear, “We need more counselors. We need more therapists.” And we do.

But we also need programs like Girls on the Run—because we reach girls before they reach a breaking point.

Prevention is early.
Prevention is consistent.
Prevention is joyful.
Prevention is possible.

What Happens During a Season of Girls on the Run?

Each team meets twice a week for 90 minutes after school. Trained volunteer coaches lead small groups through evidence-based lessons that integrate movement, discussion, reflection, and fun.

Girls learn things like:

How to reframe negative self-talk
How to manage anxiety with grounding and breath
How to set and respect personal boundaries
How to resolve conflict in healthy ways
How to build healthy relationships with themselves and others

They finish the season with a 5K—but the real finish line isn’t measured in miles. It’s measured in confidence gained, coping tools learned, and friendships formed.

The Data Speaks Volumes

These aren’t just feel-good stories. The outcomes are real, and measurable. From our 2024 National End-of-Season Survey:

92% of girls learned skills to manage emotions
86% of caregivers said GOTR helped their child handle stress
98% of girls felt included and supported
Girls who were *least* physically active at the start increased activity by over 40%

This isn’t just good for girls—it’s good for schools, families, and communities.

Our 5K Is Just the Beginning

When our girls cross the finish line at the 5K, they’ve already accomplished something much greater than running 3.1 miles.

They’ve practiced:

Setting and achieving a goal
Overcoming self-doubt
Cheering each other on
Showing up for themselves and others

In a world that too often measures worth by performance, we remind girls that their value isn’t in being perfect—it’s in being brave, real, and resilient.

This Is Mental Health in Action

Girls on the Run is meeting a statewide—and nationwide—need for early, accessible, community-rooted mental health support. And yet, we’re often overlooked because we don’t “look” like a mental health program.

It’s time we changed that.

If you’re a school leader, community partner, parent, or funder—let’s talk.
We are ready to grow. Ready to serve. And most importantly—ready to run toward healing, together.

Thank you for reading this series and for believing in the power of prevention.

Let’s keep going. 💫

Running toward Resilience, Healing, and Hope