Building better policies for girls’ mental health
The Children’s Society and The University of Manchester are working in partnership to understand what’s really happening with girls’ mental health and wellbeing, and how policymakers can make sure girls’ voices are heard and acted on. Together, we’re combining research and policy advocacy to drive meaningful change.
Why this matters
Girls in the UK are telling us they’re struggling. Our Good Childhood Report has consistently shown that girls report lower happiness relative to boys. The latest Good Childhood Report 2025 found that girls remained less happy on average than boys with their life as a whole, family, appearance and school.
Rates of low mood and anxiety are also worsening among girls, which girls themselves have attributed to challenges including difficult gender norms, intense educational pressures, the comparative landscape of social media spaces, and difficulties within peer relationships.
Girls tell us the pressures they feel are piling up. They want action: stronger social media education and regulation, schools that challenge harmful gender norms, stronger responses to sexual harassment, and more safe spaces where they can just be themselves.
What we did
What we did
In July 2025, we brought people together in Westminster for our Building Better Policies for Girls’ Mental Health workshop. Civil servants, academics, and charity sector professionals sat down to ask: What’s working? What’s not? And what needs to change?
The event was chaired by journalist Chloe Laws, whose work shines a light on the experiences of girls and women. Participants engaged in discussions on barriers, opportunities, and practical steps for change.
What we learned
Participants identified both what works and what needs to change.
The issues facing girls aren’t easy problems to solve, but there are things that we know work, such as whole-school approaches that listen to girls, co-production with young people, and creating safe, inclusive spaces.
Participants also highlighted barriers: overstretched schools, lack of culturally competent support, and systems that still prioritise boys’ needs over girls’ needs.
But they also saw opportunities to make change – amplifying girls’ voices in decision-making, improving communication around mental health, and making wellbeing a priority in policy. Better data collection and cross-sector sharing were also seen as essential.
Why collaboration matters
Why collaboration matters
One thing stood out: change won’t happen in isolation. At the start of the workshop, only 7% of participants felt connected to others working on girls’ mental health. By the end, this was 75%. Continued spaces for dialogue and joint action are critical to shaping real solutions. Together, we can build better policies that truly support girls’ mental health.
What’s next
Girls’ wellbeing deserves more than fragmented efforts and good intentions. It needs bold, joined-up action and spaces where policy makers, researchers, and advocates can work collectively. This workshop was a positive step in that direction and now we need to keep the conversation going and turn ideas into real solutions.
Want to dive deeper into the findings?
Download and read the full briefing
