Talbot Partnership recently launched a campaign geared at empowering young girls to make good choices by avoiding drugs and alcohol.
The campaign, supported by the Women and Girls Fund, comes on the heels of the latest Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey that revealed startling statistics about Talbot County’s students. According to the survey, 28.2 percent of Talbot 8th grade girls have seriously considered suicide. In addition, 32.7 percent felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks and stopped usual activity, according to the survey.
Stressors such feeling sad and hopeless as those revealed in the survey can often lead to drug and alcohol use, particularly as coping mechanisms for self-esteem issues and depression. In turn, using drugs or alcohol can then lead to risky and often life-threatening behaviors.
“Young women and girls struggle with different issues than males and may use substances to relieve negative feelings,” said Sharon Huseman, executive director for Talbot Partnership. “We need to provide support and guidance so our young women know someone is there for them.”
The Empower Our Girls campaign encourages women to offer support, listening, time and coping skills. The campaign includes a television PSA featuring Talbot County girls and women that encourages community involvement and urges moms and caregivers to show they care.
“To be a part of something that might change the life of young girls everywhere is so influential to me,” said India Leigh Brittingham, a 10th grader at Easton High School who participated in the campaign. “I was pleased to work with such amazing people and lucky to be a part of something so great.”
The campaign includes a tip sheet that includes signs of stress, local resources and 10 things women can do for girls. Also included is a coupon from Joe’s Bagel Café in an effort to encourage spending time with our young women and girls.
The tip sheet is available online at www.talbotpartnership.org. The website also includes the campaign PSA and the full Youth Risk Behavior Survey report.
Talbot Partnership envisions a community free of substance abuse, where youth and adults lead healthy, safe and productive lives. Talbot Partnership is the only nonprofit coalition that focuses on substance abuse prevention. Visit www.talbotpartnership.org or find us on Facebook.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.