I Am Strong. I Am Woman. I Am in the Know.

When Helen Reddy belted “I Am Woman” back in some podcast listeners’ youth, a sense of empowerment topped the charts for females of all ages. “…I can do anything. I am strong. I am invincible…” became a mantra for an entire generation. Fast forward a few decades, and vocal artists such as Alicia Keyes, Taylor Swift, and a host of other females continue to offer girls, teens and women encouragement, fostering confidence in who they are and what they have to offer the world.

But what if those messages created to support preteen, teenage and adult females aren’t heard or believed? What if, as young girls start their transition into adolescence, they lack self-esteem or feel small and insignificant or ugly and don’t believe in themselves? What can parents do to help them get through one of the most challenging stages of life? Gina Martin knows. That’s why, as a “girl mom,” she began volunteering more than a decade ago with Girls in the Know, an organization that “educates and empowers girls, together with those who love them, by providing tools to establish a strong sense of self.” The mission spoke to her heart, and she has been living it ever since. Listen in on this week’s Mental Health Matters, as Gina, now the organization’s executive director, and Tom Duff, MSW, LCSW talk about why having tough talks with girls (and boys) is not optional. And how, through trusted relationships, girls can and will discover empowering words to live by.

“I am woman watch me grow. See me standing toe to toe, As I spread my lovin’ arms across the land…I am strong. I am invincible. I am woman.” (from “I Am Woman,” Helen Reddy, 1971)

Sponsorship Opportunity

If you are interested in helping to break down stigma by sponsoring Mental Health Matters, let us know by emailing Debbie Dugan at ddugan@ccstl.org. Because, mental health really does matter!