About Social Media and Mental Health

By Katherine De Vito

“By turning their concern into action, these young leaders are helping create a healthier future for the next generation of students in Westfield.”

Three members of Girl Scout Troop 40308 are taking action to address an issue that affects children and teens every day: the impact of social media on mental health.

As part of their Girl Scout Silver Award project, Cadette Girl Scouts Maika Balcet, Emma De Vito, and Colette Heim have developed a community-wide initiative focused on educating young people and families about the potential negative effects of social media use and encouraging healthier digital habits.

The Girl Scout Silver Award is a high award that a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. Considered one of the organization’s most prestigious achievements, the award challenges girls in grades 6-8 to identify an issue in their community, investigate its causes, and create a sustainable project that makes a lasting impact. Earning the Silver Award requires leadership, planning and a commitment to service.

“The Silver Award project is amazing, not only because not only will I make a positive impact on my community, but I did this work with two of my best friends. It has been a lot of fun doing this project with them,” said Maika Balcet.

For Emma, Colette and Maika, the issue was clear. As social media becomes an increasingly important part of children’s daily lives, concerns have grown about its effects on self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sleep and overall well-being. Wanting to make a difference for younger students, the girls created a presentation focused on social media awareness, healthy online behavior and strategies for maintaining positive mental health.

“We wanted to do this project for our Silver Award, to bring awareness to this important issue and to encourage others to spend less time on screens,” said De Vito.

“I chose to do my Silver Award on the dangers of social media and teen mental health because I’ve seen how something designed to connect us can quietly isolate us, shape our self-worth, and impact our well-being,” said Heim.

Their work will have a lasting impact in the community. The presentation has been incorporated into the sixth-grade health curriculum at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield, where the troop members are currently eighth-grade students. By educating younger students, the girls hope to help children develop healthy relationships with technology.

The troop has already begun sharing its message throughout the community. During Mental Health Awareness Week at Roosevelt Intermediate School, the girls hosted an informational table at the school’s Mental Health Fair, providing resources and engaging students.

A key component of the project is the troop’s “No Phone Challenge.” Participants are encouraged to put away their phones for an entire week and explore alternative activities instead. The girls have compiled suggestions ranging from outdoor recreation and sports to reading, arts and crafts, volunteering, spending time with family and friends and more. The challenge is designed to help participants experience the benefits of disconnecting from screens and doing other activities.

The troop will continue its outreach efforts with upcoming presentations at the Westfield Memorial Library. Community members are invited to attend sessions on Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to noon and Monday, June 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The events will feature the troop’s presentation on social media and mental health, information about the No Phone Challenge, and opportunities for families to learn more about healthy technology use.

Children, parents and community members are encouraged to stop by, meet the girls, hear their message and learn more about the impact of social media on children’s mental health. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in the No Phone Challenge and be entered into a raffle for fun prizes.

Troop 40308 is led by Katherine De Vito and Maria Lamothe, along with parent volunteer Melody Balcet, whose guidance and support helped the girls throughout the Silver Award process and bring their project to life.

Through their Silver Award project, Emma, Colette and Maika are demonstrating how young people can identify important issues, educate their community and create meaningful change. Their efforts aim to spark conversations about mental health, encourage balanced technology use, and empower children to make thoughtful choices both online and offline.

By turning their concern into action, these young leaders are helping create a healthier future for the next generation of students in Westfield.