The average girl in Indiana experiences bullying and sexual dating violence more than boys her age, as shared in a new report by multiple youth coalitions, meaning that girls' caregivers — from parents and schools to lawmakers — need to do more to address barriers to accessing mental health care and reduce violence in their communities.
In other areas, such as academic achievement in reading comprehension, the state's female adolescents outperformed their male counterparts.
The second annual Indiana Girl Report, published annually by the Indiana Youth Institute, the Indiana Federation of Girls and the Girl Scouts, aims to assess the well-being of girls across the state, with detailed analysis of differences between regions of the state.
“The 2024 Indiana Girl Report is more than just a collection of data,” IYI president and CEO Tami Silverman said in a statement. “It's an example of the fundamental role data plays in our collaborative work to protect and improve the lives of Indiana's children. We're proud to work with Girl Co., who are committed to using data to create impactful change. Together, we're moving toward a brighter future for all Indiana girls.”
In contrast to last year’s version, the 2024 report focuses more explicitly on calls to action – ways families and stakeholders can improve the well-being of Indiana girls.
Report details
Some of the data comes from the national report on child well-being, which IYI breaks down to the Indiana state level each year. Notably, Indiana was ranked 24th in child well-being in 2023, but dropped to 27th earlier this year.
Just over 30 percent of girls ages 6 to 17 do not participate in any organized after-school or weekend activities or lessons — the highest rate among Indiana's four neighboring states. One in 10 girls (10.6%) reported participating in an hour of activity per day per week, compared with one in four boys (27.8%).
Additionally, more than 8,000 homeless girls will be enrolled in schools in the 2022-2023 school year, a 10% increase from the previous year.
Through these conversations, we heard loud and clear that girls are resilient.
– Mackenzie Pickerell, Executive Director, Indiana Girl United
The report noted that not everyone feels they have trusted adults in their lives. While the majority of girls (nine in 10) feel they have adult mentors at school, one in five said they feel they cannot ask their parents for help with personal problems. One in seven boys also feel they cannot ask their parents for help.
Advocates also said that 17.2 percent of high school girls reported experiencing sexual dating violence last year, compared with just 2.5 percent of high school boys.
Combined with an increase in bullying, lumping both together as “interpersonal aggression,” the report took an in-depth look at Indiana girls' access to mental health help.
Indiana's child well-being scores drop in new national report
“Given girls' higher rates of interpersonal aggression and disparities in positive childhood experiences, it is not surprising that girls are twice as likely as boys to report mental health problems,” the report states. “All adolescents should have access to mental health support, including through school- and community-based programs, interventions and mental health services.”
Young women in middle and high school are twice as likely to report mental health problems than their male peers, and they also report higher rates of substance use, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and over-the-counter drugs.
Indeed, nationwide, rates of mental hospitalization for young women have increased, which the report links to increases in interpersonal aggression and worsening overall mental health conditions among adolescents, along with other compounding factors including low household income, food insecurity, discrimination and immigration barriers.
“Intergenerational poverty perpetuates a sense of hopelessness. Poverty creates many challenges and girls are particularly left without access to support,” Girl Coalition team members said in the report.
Despite these challenges, girls in the Hoosier State were more likely to earn proficiency assessments in English and reading, and performed better than boys on the state’s IREAD-3 test and the ILEARN assessments, although boys performed better than girls on the math portion of the ILEARN assessments.
Proposed solution
“We wanted to know why girls face such challenges, so we dug deeper: we found more research, we spoke to experts, and most of all, we talked to girls. Through these conversations, we heard loud and clear: girls are resilient,” Mackenzie Pickerell, executive director of the Girl Coalition, said in the report.
“They have a lot of answers about what they need and want, and they are pleading with the adults in their lives to listen. As caregivers and leaders, we must listen with empathy and act to ensure that Indiana's system prioritizes their well-being, not just in the state legislature but in health care and education.”
The report's authors urged parents of girls in the Hoosier State to engage in open, nonjudgmental conversations and “foster positive social support structures,” which could include after-school programs, informal mentorship or participation in Girl Scout troops.
Excerpt from the 2024 Indiana Girl Report
For program providers coordinating these supports, in addition to anti-bullying, lessons should also include mental health awareness and preventing sexual harassment and dating violence — the same topics parents are advised to discuss at home. Other topics to discuss include improving self-esteem, teaching stress management and supporting leadership skills.
Schools, another support system outside the home, should also train teachers to address mental health concerns and reinforce the core topics discussed above, “utilizing trauma-informed practices.” But the report acknowledges that Indiana falls far short of the recommended ratio of one social worker per student, hindering the implementation of such programs. In 2023, Indiana had one social worker for every 2,786 students.
Finally, state policymakers can implement policy decisions to invest in mental health programs in schools and communities to improve access for all Indiana residents and reduce barriers related to economic status and racial disparities.
“Surrounding girls with supportive, trusted adults and creating safe spaces where all girls feel a sense of belonging are positive strategies that can break the cycle of negative outcomes in areas we have defined as wellness. We are actively listening to our communities about the systemic challenges that are preventing girls from accessing positive youth development experiences like Girl Scouts. Understanding and addressing these barriers is urgent,” the six CEOs of state Girl Scout councils said in the letter.
Get morning headlines delivered to your inbox
Subscribe
