A new report has found that girls in New Hampshire are twice as likely as boys to struggle with mental health.

The New Hampshire Women’s Foundation report indicates that 50% of girls in the state suffer from mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. This rate is the highest in New England and surpasses the national average of 41%.

“I think a lot of times we are celebrating the fact that New Hampshire is a wonderful place to be, to live, to raise children and it absolutely is and we are proud of that,” said Devan Quinn, director of policy for New Hampshire Women’s Foundation. “But there are some aspects that make our state unique that we are specifically uniquely struggling with too.”

While the exact factors specific to New Hampshire contributing to these high rates remain unclear, Quinn emphasizes that accessible resources in communities and schools can make a significant difference.

But Maggie Disbrow, a clinical outreach manager for Charlie Health who grew up in New Hampshire and now lives in Concord, points to the isolation felt in rural and less diverse areas as a factor.

“It is relatively low diversity and really rural out here and I would say that most of New England probably is very similar,” said Disbrow. “Connecting with individuals is tough and maybe it’s the same people you’ve been seeing your entire life but what if you don’t identify with those individuals?”

Recently, Gov. Chris Sununu signed several bills into law that limit transgender rights.

Quinn expressed disappointment in these measures, particularly the ban on transgender girls participating in school sports teams, noting that it could have a significant negative impact on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth in the state.

“Every student should be able to take advantage of all that school has to offer from the classroom to after-school activities and they should feel supported and welcome and be able to take in the benefits of everything that sports offers like teamwork and socialization and togetherness,” explained Quinn. “That’s a huge opportunity to respond to the mental health issues of the LGBTQ community giving them more opportunities.”

Disbrow added that while efforts are underway to challenge these laws, their impact could be severe.

“It definitely will impact heavily on the student suicide rates for sure,” she cautioned.

Data from the state’s Health and Human Services Agency reveals that between 2011 and 2023, high school girls consistently had higher rates of suicide attempts compared to boys. In 2021, the rates peaked, with 13% of high school girls attempting suicide, compared to 6.3% of boys.

For all youth, the statistics are jarring, said Quinn.

The decline in mental health for youth could be due to a range of childhood such as traumas, including those that stem from their parents’ substance abuse and imprisonment.

Although it is often assumed that boys and men report lower rates of mental health struggles, Quinn notes that this may not always be the case.

She points out that girls experience higher rates of dating and sexual violence, as well as both in-person and online bullying, compared to boys, which may contribute to the troubling statistics we are seeing.

Social media’s negative impact on self-esteem is also a significant concern for girls. Quinn noted, “Girls are particularly affected by the harmful messages about body image and self-worth found on social media.”

New Hampshire is among the states that filed lawsuits against TikTok and Meta, which owns Facebook. The state claims the social media sites have created an addictive, manipulative experience that is harmful to the mental health of young users.

Despite these challenges, she emphasizes the strength, intelligence, and resilience of girls.

“There is so much to celebrate about girls and there’s so much that we don’t know through the data, like the friendship, courage, love, and effort that girls do every single day,” Quinn said. “Girls are complex and have rich lives.”

Early Intervention

Since the pandemic began in 2020, the waitlist for youth psychiatric inpatient care has surged, with more girls than boys on the list. However, by 2023, the percentage of youth waiting has decreased from a peak of 69% in 2021 to 56%. Notably, the number of boys and girls on the waitlist has become nearly equal.

Despite this decrease, advocates stress the importance of preventing situations that necessitate acute inpatient care.

According to Disbrow, schools often serve as the first point of contact and are crucial in early intervention.

“I know most of the school systems do this already but having good suicide prevention, knowing the warning signs, knowing the cues and knowing your resources, being able to speak up, knowing where your resources are are really the big things. And advocating,” she said.

In addition to investing in better mental health resources, Quinn emphasizes the need to listen to girls when they voice their needs.

“Girls are smart and they are thoughtful and they know what they need,” she said. “Adults in their lives need to listen to girls and they need to give them the resources they’re saying they need in order for them to thrive.”