Suicide Prevention | Empowerment 4 Girls

Our Programs Implement Expert-recommended Strategies to Mitigate 4 Major Risk Factors Associated With Adolescent Self-Harm and Suicide

E4G program curricula are trauma-informed, guided by WA Education Standards, and designed to provide nurturing, encouraging, and inclusive spaces.

1. Depression, Anxiety & Stress

Stress among adolescents can come from a wide array of sources and lead to or exacerbate depression and anxiety.

Sources of adolescent stress include but are not limited to:

Racism and discrimination
Bullying
School demands and frustrations
Negative thoughts or feelings about themselves
Changes in their bodies
Navigating sexual orientation and gender identity in an unsupportive environment
Economic insecurity
Trauma and adversity experienced as a result of loss of stable housing and guardianship
Peer pressure
Trying to meet unreasonable expectations

Many of the recommended strategies for reducing stress are the same regardless of the source.

Recommended Mitigation Strategies:

We integrate nutrition, yoga, breath work, meditation/mindfulness, art projects, and exercise into our programming, while creating space for positive peer connections and support networks. We also invite guest speakers to give presentations on topics such as positive body image, social media awareness, fighting imposter syndrome, promoting healthy habits, and the power of community.

The following themes form the foundation of our Empowerment programs and focus heavily on stress reduction:

Empowerment

Understand the connection between self-esteem and healthy decision making

Advocate for self and others to prevent bullying, harassment, and intimidation

Discussion around the following questions:

What is your favorite thing about being a girl?
What are your strengths?
Why is it important to empower girls and women?

Mindfulness/Breath work: Breath of fire to release negative self-talk and doubt | Bring energy back in through power words | Power yoga & warrior poses | Girls exchange written positive affirmations

Discussion:
Ways to Create Allyship and Support Other Girls

Guest Yoga Teacher: Kelli Mae Willis “Powerful Partnership” We find our strength when we lift each other up. We use the principles of partner yoga, circus, and acrobatics to embody the power of community. Participants learn to find body shapes strong enough to hold the weight of a partner, while developing trust and courage to allow themselves to be supported.

Past Guest Speaker: Kimberly Mueller “The Power of Being a Female Engineer” Sometimes it isn't easy to feel like yourself when you are surrounded by people who seem different. I will talk about being a female engineer in a male dominated field. I will share a bit about what engineers do and will then focus on why staying true to yourself creates more fulfilling experiences at work. We will also do a fun engineering activity.

Self-Image

Learn the importance of having a strong sense of body image when dealing with societal stressors and social media challenges

Self-inquiry questions:

How do we appreciate/love what we have?
Create positive pathways to embrace our authentic selves?
How do you feel about your body, are you supported?
Do your peers have positive ideas about their body?
How do girls talk about their bodies when they are together?
What is positive body image?

Handout - 10 Steps to Positive Body Image

Breathing/Meditation with Sound Healing-balancing breath; I am beautiful and strong. Positive affirmations: how and why they work- breaking patterns of negative self-talk

Past Guest Yoga Instructor: Aly Long “Seeing Ourselves Through the Eyes of Love”
We will practice asana, breath and meditation to focus on how we see ourselves. The practice will focus on loving ourselves where we are in this moment and in every moment. Practice will include some partner and group poses.

Past Guest Speaker: Elizabeth Swanson “Body image”
As someone who has struggled with body image most of my life, and as the mother of two girls, body image is an important topic to me. It’s impact on girls’ identity and confidence can’t be underestimated. I will speak with the girls about body image and the relationship we have with how our bodies look and how we feel others perceive us. We will also make an art project using self pictures and strong words of identity and confidence.

Expression

Encourage girls to find their voices and freely express their emotions and experiences

Discussion topics:

How do you express your emotions?
What are different ways you express yourself?
The struggle of women in confidently speaking truth
Acknowledgement and validation

Mindfulness:

Breathing exercise - Inhale 3, exhale 5
Meditation - “my voice is strong and confident.”

Yoga and positive affirmation meditation

Past Guest Speaker: Cecily Schmidt
Program attendees get the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the qualities that make them each unique. They are guided through a short yoga practice then write poems and create visual artwork to express the unique characteristics that make them who they are. We close by sharing our poems with each other.

Responsibility

Apply decision making skills to make a health-enhancing choice
Analyze how family, peers, media, culture, and technology influence health decisions and behaviors

Group discussion:
What does self-responsibility mean to you?
What are you responsible for?
What are the benefits of self-responsibility?
What about social media?

Mindfulness:
Breathing exercise: inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4,
Meditation: “I am fully present.”

Discussion and activities:
The importance of social media awareness, and being a steward of our environment and community

Past Guest Speaker: Emily McMason “Living in a Social Media World” It can be a great way to connect. It can also disconnect us from what’s important. We’ll talk about some cool research--the bathing suit test and the kitchen table test. We'll look at some not-so-little laws--how old do you actually have to be to have a snapchat account? We'll dive into brain behavior--what happens inside your head when your device buzzes at you? And talk about how to decide what to share on social media and with whom.

Self-Care

Gain tools for calming the nervous system and self-soothing
Learn the importance of taking care of selves
Explain how stress management techniques positively impact health
Develop a personal stress management plan
Investigate validity of health and wellness information, products, and services

Group discussion:

What do you do for self-care?
How do you self-soothe?
How do you deal with stress?
Benefits of positive thinking

Mindfulness:
Breath work activity: breathe inhale 3, exhale 5 and meditate “here and now, present moment”

Practice using PACE brain gym exercises to calm the nervous system

Facilitator-led discussion on examples of self care:

taking breaks
staying hydrated
eating well
getting enough sleep
proper hygiene

Past Guest Speaker: Jennifer Johnson “Get Out of My Hair, Toxins in Personal Care”
Teens are a primary target for sale of personal care products – yet some ingredients used to make cosmetics, lotion, deodorant, shampoo, and hair dye have been linked to cancer and may cause reproductive and environmental harm. We will discuss toxins in personal care products and alternatives teens can choose to protect themselves. We’ll learn about health concerns, how to read labels, helpful websites, and safer alternatives. The students will make an all-natural lip balm to take home, to remind them they can keep looking and smelling good without toxic products.

After the guest presenter, program attendees are given time and space to dance to music!

Our Conscious Minds Conscious Bodies™ programs promote health and wellbeing through intentional sex education focused on:
Anatomy and Menstruation | Boundaries and Consent | Puberty, Positive Body Image, and Social Media Awareness | Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity | Self-Care, Resilience, and Relationships

2. Discrimination or Hostility Due to Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation

LGBTQ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers (Johns et al., 2019; Johns et al., 2020).

Recommended Mitigation Strategies:

We support and affirm LGBTQ+ attendees, while providing information that is crucial to becoming an LGBTQ+ ally. Our programs are open and relevant to trans and non-binary youth. The curriculum provides an overview of gender identity and the harm caused by gender roles and stereotypes.

Conscious Minds Conscious Bodies ™ - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Gender and sexuality are beautiful spectrums. We explore the difference between gender identity, gender expression, sex assigned at birth, as well as sexual and romantic orientation. We also discuss where our ideas of gender roles come from and how we can all work together to create a safe community.
Past Guest Speaker: Sara Kukkonen

Learning Outcomes:

Understand how we limit ourselves and others by using stereo-types or social conditioning
Gain or deepen an understanding of the ways biological sex, gender identity, and gender expression may be different among people
Gain knowledge and skills to explore attitudes that affirm the dignity and worth of people of all sexual orientations

WA Health Education Core Ideas:

H1.Se5.2a Understand that there is a range of gender roles and expression.
H1.Se5.2b Understand importance of treating others with respect regarding gender expression.
H2.Se5.5a Describe how media, society, and culture can influence ideas regarding gender roles, identity, and expression.

3. Bullying, Cyberbullying & Unhealthy Media Consumption

Recommended Mitigation Strategies:

We address bullying, cyberbullying, and unhealthy consumption of media by promoting and teaching:

positive body image
self-love
self-care
resilience
strategies for building healthy relationships
strategies for navigating social media during puberty
strategies for being an advocate of self and others

Part of the Empowerment Program

Learning Outcomes:

Learn the importance of having a strong sense of self when faced with societal stressors or social media challenges
Create positive pathways to embrace our authentic selves through empowering activities.
Learn ways to boost our self-esteem to lead us towards empowerment of self and others.

WA Health Education Core Ideas:

H1.So1.4a Compare and contrast high and low self esteem
H1.So1.4b Understand the connection between self-esteem and healthy decision making
H1.So1.HSbUnderstand changes in self esteem can occur as people mature
H8.So5.5 Advocate for self and others to prevent bullying, harassment, and intimidation

Learning Outcomes:

Define resilience and explore how we foster it in our lives
Consider how to cultivate loving relationships with self and others
Prepare participants to be best friends and loving partners and engage in positive relationships
Gain proficiency in listening, being assertive, and using refusal skills

Past Guest Speaker Amber Jenson:
We will learn what resilience is and how to build it so we can face challenges feeling empowered and capable. We’ll explore ways to improve our physical, mental and emotional well-being so that we can recover more quickly when we experience challenges, focus on problem solving, and keep a positive outlook. We will recognize how positive connections with ourselves and others can enhance our resilience and support us through challenging times.

WA Health Education Core Ideas:

H1.So1.5a Explain how high self-esteem is a sign of emotional well-being
H1.So4.3a Describe importance of being aware of one’s own feelings
H1.So4.5a Understand ways to manage difficult emotions
H4.W6.3b Recognize how to ask for needs

Learning Outcomes:

Discuss and normalize changes that occur with puberty
Learn the power of self-love and how to enhance it
Learn how to navigate bodies and beings with compassion, kindness, and respect
Consider how social media impacts body image
Learn how positive or negative body image can affect our attitudes, decisions, and behaviors

WA Health Education Core Ideas:

H1.Se.1.3 Recognize accurate names for body parts, including
internal and external reproductive anatomy
H1.Se2.5a Identify ways to manage physical, social, and emotional changes that occur during puberty
H1.Se2.5 b Describe how puberty and physical development can vary considerably
H1.Se3.5 Recognize puberty prepares the body for reproduction
H1.So1.5a Explain how high self-esteem is a sign of emotional well-being
H1.So2.5 Describe influence of peers and social media on body image

Past Guest Speaker: Elizabeth Swanson "Self Image & Social Media Awareness"
We cover various terms in regards to body image such as body positivity, body negativity, and body neutrality. We discuss what shapes our body image and how social media can play a part. There will be a partner activity and then we will have an art project where we decorate mirrors with empowering words and art.

Past Guest Speaker: Michele Drake "Anatomy, Puberty, and Menstruation"
Girls learn about the anatomical names and roles of internal and external reproductive organs. We discuss the journey of the egg and the role of menstruation while we make our anatomy collage.

4. Lack of Social Support and Affirming Spaces

All of our programming is designed to fill a gap in social support and affirming spaces for girls at a critical phase of development when they are forming identities and learning to cope with numerous stressors that put them at risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. By implementing expert-recommended strategies to mitigate major risk factors, we aim to be part of a much-needed, broader effort to reduce adolescent self-harm and suicide rates.

If you would like to join us in our efforts, please consider donating, volunteering, or becoming a board member.

Additional resources for anyone who is considering suicide or knows someone who is:

988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Dial: 988

Twelve-Things-Parents-Can-Do-to-Prevent-Suicide

The Trevor Project Help line
1-866-488-7386

Teenagers Guide to Depression

Are you feeling suicidal?

Our Programs Implement Expert-recommended Strategies to Mitigate 4 Major Risk Factors Associated With Adolescent Self-Harm and Suicide

1. Depression, Anxiety & Stress

2. Discrimination or Hostility Due to Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation

3. Bullying, Cyberbullying & Unhealthy Media Consumption

4. Lack of Social Support and Affirming Spaces

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