JANUARY 2022 ISSUE

Dear friends,

The new year presents an opportunity to reflect on what's important to us. As the leader of Big Sister Boston, what's going on for girls is typically at the forefront of my mind. Not only that, but how we, as an organization, are creating connections throughout our Big Sister community and just how critical those connections are, especially now.

Girls and the Mental Health Crisis

Many of us make resolutions as we turn the calendar to January. We often focus on improving our physical health and resolve to eat nutritious food, cut back on sugar and salt, or count how many steps we take in a day. We have apps to help us measure our progress, and “accountabili-buddies” to cheer us on. Yet, how many of us resolve to improve our mental health? Over the last two years, we have all been challenged by factors outside of our control which impact our ability to stay healthy. 

At Big Sister we work to maintain positive mental health for our team members, for our Big Sister volunteers, and, for girls, who are most impacted by the social isolation created by the pandemic. We know that girls are relational and their confidence is impacted by positive relationships with peers and adults. Yet, we were surprised by how devastating this time has been on girls' mental health.

According to these findings presented in the January 4, 2022 New York Times newsletter:

Mental Health Problems Have Increased
Many children and teenagers are experiencing mental health problems, aggravated by the isolation and disruption of the pandemic.

Suicide Attempts Prevalent Among Girls
Suicide attempts have risen, slightly among adolescent boys and sharply among adolescent girls. The number of E.R. visits for suspected suicide attempts by 12- to 17-year-old girls rose by 51 percent from early 2019 to early 2021, according to the C.D.C.

Social Isolation
Many schools have still not returned to normal, worsening learning loss and social isolation.

Behavior Problems Have Increased
“Schools across the country say they’re seeing an uptick in disruptive behaviors,” Kalyn Belsha of Chalkbeat reported. “Some are obvious and visible, like students trashing bathrooms, fighting over social media posts or running out of classrooms. Others are quieter calls for help, like students putting their head down and refusing to talk.”

The good news is that we know that the more caring adults there are in a girl’s life, the better for her well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Connecting youth with caring adults and activities (such as mentoring relationships) is a way to prevent the detrimental effects of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), which are traumatic experiences in childhood and the teenage years may put children at risk for violence, chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance abuse in adulthood.

Yet, these findings make our work even more urgent: we must ensure that all girls have a consistently caring, attentive adult in their lives whom they can turn to for support and encouragement. Which leads me to...

National Mentoring Month: Thank You, Big Sisters!

January is National Mentoring Month where we recognize and amplify the impact of the mentoring relationships shared by our Big and Little Sisters. We can't thank our Big Sisters enough for the time they spend with their Little Sisters. They have exchanged a few hours of their personal time for a girl in need of an adult friend. As philosopher Simone Well said: "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity." That is what our Big Sisters give, unconditionally, to their Little Sisters. It's what we want for all girls: the chance to have someone to talk to, to share insecurities, fears, joys, and to have the chance to be silly and have fun. And, speaking of our Big Sisters...

Cultivating Connections at Our Big Sister Social

Our team of Match Support Specialists recently held a virtual Big Sister Social. During the social, Big Sisters had the opportunity to forge connections with each other, and share rewards and challenges of their Little Sister relationships. There were 15 Big Sisters in attendance, and they enjoyed a series of activities with the guidance of our staff. Together they brainstormed match activities, participated in Big Sister trivia, and created cards for their Little Sisters to celebrate the new year. They closed out the event by creating word clouds the reflect how they feel about their Little Sisters and mentoring relationships.

Big Sister Socials are a great way for our Big Sisters to connect in an adults-only space and receive support not only from our staff, but from each other. The Big Sisters who participated in this month’s social left feeling energized and excited for the next gathering!

Having a Big Sister won't prevent every girl from feeling lonely, but it will give them the chance to see themselves through the eyes of a woman who cares about her and listens to her. This goes a long way to giving girls the positive mental health to move through these difficult times. Together, we must continue to insist on this advantage for every girl.

In gratitude

Deborah Re
President & CEO, Big Sister Boston