Non-profit meets girls halfway to deal with today's issues

In a COVID world - the problems our youth face have not disappeared.

Ophelia's Place, a prevention based non profit for girls aged 10-18 recognizes this and adapted the way they serve out youth.

Support and structure are needed now more than ever - especially in our young people as kezi 9 news reporter emma jerome shows us - one non profit is adapting to help a group of people that may be vulnerable to the mental stresses that come with this pandemic.

Sabia: "ophelia's place has given me a lot of self esteem and i'm sure it has for other girls too" sabia annsa -- almost 12 years old - has been going to ophelia's place for 2 years -- and in a covid world - the problems our youth face have not disappeared sabia: "i used to get made fun of for like how i wore my hair or the people i hung out with."

Emma jerome: " according to the world health organization one in six people are aged 10-19..

.and in that age group nearly 16 percent of the global burden for illness and disease comes from mental health conditions... ophelia's place recognizes this and stepped in to intervene."

Verna wise matthews "we're continuing our drop in opportunities... continuing our class...we're offering telehealth therapy sessions."

Offering support like trauma therapy as well as drop-in groups that deal with issues such as body image, anxiety, and sex.

Their services are available for all girls regardless of background only now those services are online verna wise matthews: " when the coronavirus hit the staff at ophelia's place got together and decided the girls needed us now more than every so it became important that we change our service model and meet girls where they are."

"there's all these girls who have gone through the same thing and they tell you 'you are an amazing person' and it's awesome."

Now she says she has a safe place to go without worrying about being judged or bullied reporting in eugene emma jerome kezi 9 news