When 16-year-old Maya skipped school she was not skipping class — she was skipping the place where nightmares resurfaced. A counselor helped her find a safe space, and slowly the sharp edges of trauma began to dull. Stories like Maya's are common: young people carrying invisible wounds that shape their futures.
Why this matters now
Mental health disorders affect about 1 in 7 adolescents worldwide, and the global burden of anxiety and depression rose sharply at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. See the WHO's adolescent mental health fact sheet for context (WHO adolescent mental health) and their 2022 report on rising prevalence (WHO press release).
For women and girls the stakes are often compounded by gender-based violence: around one in three women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime (UN Women). Trauma, if untreated, limits education, employment, and wellbeing — but timely, trauma-informed support changes trajectories.
Where help is making a difference
Non-profits and community organizations are stepping into the breach. NAMI provides mental health education and peer support across the United States (NAMI). Women for Women International supports women survivors of conflict with cash, skills training, and psychosocial support (Women for Women International). Organizations such as the International Rescue Committee run trauma recovery programs for displaced youth and families (IRC).
Recovery is not a straight line — it is a community effort.
How you can help today
Small, informed actions scale. Here are simple ways to move from awareness to impact:
- Listen and refer: If someone is in crisis, connect them to immediate help such as local crisis services (in the U.S. dial 988).
- Support organizations: Volunteer, donate, or share programs from trusted nonprofits like NAMI, Women for Women International, and IRC.
- Advocate for funding: Ask local leaders for sustained investment in school-based mental health and trauma-informed care.
- Learn and spread awareness: Use credible sources to counter stigma and amplify survivor voices.
There is reason for hope. Investments in youth development and trauma recovery pay dividends in safer communities, stronger economies, and fulfilled lives. If Maya's counselor had not reached out, her path might have been very different. Instead, she is back in class and training to mentor others.
Take one action today: Share this message, connect a young person to support, or donate an hour of your time to a local program. Collective small moves become the safety nets that let resilience grow.
