LewisGale Regional Health System announces HCA Healthcare Foundation's partnership with Girl Scouts

Salem, VA — The HCA Healthcare Foundation and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) are partnering to bring a national Mental Wellness Patch Program across the country to address mental health to young women. Locally, LewisGale Regional Health System (LGRHS), a part of HCA Virginia, partnered with the Girl Scouts of the Virginia Skyline to introduce the program at the 2024 Operation H.E.R.: Strong Minds, Strong Girls Mental Health Summit in Roanoke. The patch program, designed for girls in grades four through 12, provides useful tools to help girls safely identify and explore their feelings, seek support and find resources for help, if needed.

“HCA Virginia has been working on mental health awareness through various partnerships in Southwest Virginia,” said Leigh Gathings, market vice president of behavioral health for LewisGale Regional Health System. “With our country facing a mental health crisis, we’re excited to team up with the Girl Scouts of the Virginia Skyline to bring much-needed resources to our community. Through my role at LGRHS and as a mom of three daughters, two of which are Girl Scouts, I am learning firsthand how important it is for girls to prioritize their wellbeing for future success.”

The Girl Scouts of the USA's Mental Wellness Patch Programs, developed in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) are currently available to all Girl Scout councils nationwide. The programs were additionally reviewed by GSUSA's Program Advisory Sub-Committee on Mental Wellness, which included HCA Healthcare behavioral health experts. The new patch programs encourage girls to learn about mental wellness for themselves and others; recognize and understand their feelings; effectively cope with mental health challenges; and feel comfortable seeking help.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support from LewisGale Regional Health System, HCA Healthcare, and its foundation in providing these essential resources to our Girl Scouts,” said Nikki Williams, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline. “Now more than ever, girls need our support. These resources have the power to make a significant positive impact on countless young women.”

The patches are:

• Knowing My Emotions (Girl Scout Juniors, grades four–five) 
  This patch teaches Girl Scout Juniors positive coping skills and how to name their feelings. 
• Finding My Voice (Girl Scout Cadettes, grades six–eight)
  Girl Scout Cadettes learn about stigma, helping friends, how to be mindful on social media and how to practice self-care.
• Showing Up For Me and You (Girl Scout Seniors/Ambassadors, grades nine - 12)
  This patch equips Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors with tactics for practicing self-care as well as coping mechanisms on how to handle difficult situations for themselves and others.

The programming includes 90-minute sessions that feature activities such as making art or writing poetry that foster resilience and help girls to better understand their world. Program materials also include meeting aids, parent/caregiver resources, teaser activities, and marketing tools to equip Girl Scout troop leaders and council staff with support and activities focused on mental wellness, behavioral issues, and healthy habits. Each patch also includes an adult facilitator guide to help adults approach girls in a sensitive way, prompt important conversations, and guide them through difficult moments.

HCA Healthcare is committed to promoting mental wellness for its patients, colleagues, and communities. With more than 2300 sites of care, including 186 hospitals, in communities across 20 states, HCA Healthcare uses the knowledge and data from more than 320,000 annual behavioral health patient encounters to make positive advances in the ways it provides care to its patients.

In addition to its national support of GSUSA, The HCA Healthcare Foundation has supported Girl Scouts locally since 1998. In 2017, it was expanded to support specialty troops, including those with unhoused girls. In July, HCA Healthcare was a national sponsor of Phenom by Girl Scouts, an event that attracted more than 10,000 Girl Scouts. At the event, Girl Scouts and their parents or guardians participated in a variety of activities, including visiting HCA Healthcare’s booth to learn more about the Mental Wellness Patch Program.

This partnership is a result of the HCA Healthcare Foundation’s $1.38 million grant to Girl Scouts of the USA, through its Healthier Tomorrow Fund, which was announced last year.