Young women and girls share their stories for mutual wellbeing

International Women's Day (IWD) - celebrated annually on 8 March - is a moment to honour the lives and achievements of women across all aspects of life, from social and cultural to economic and political.

The day also marks a call to accelerate progress towards gender equality, with the World Economic Forum last year estimating that it would take another 123 years to reach gender parity at the current rate of progress.¹

The theme of this year's event is 'Give to Gain', emphasising that when people, organisations and communities give generously (in all senses of the word), opportunities and support for women increase.

To mark this moment of celebration we have chosen to spotlight a unique new tool Anna Freud is working on that has empowered young women from across the UK to share (or “give”) their stories to other young women like them, with the ultimate aim of improving each other’s mental health and wellbeing in the process.

My Story and Me

We know that mental health difficulties for young women are increasing. One in three young women aged 17-19 experiences mental health difficulties² and those from marginalised groups or facing other forms of inequality are often affected even more³.

Mental health is not only shaped by personal experiences, but also by the structure of the world around us. Women and girls are more likely to have lower incomes and greater childcare responsibilities compared to men and boys,⁴ and experience higher incidences of sexual abuse and harassment,⁵ along with domestic violence⁶.

Their unique experience, and growing societal pressures, make it even more important that young women can access support that feels relevant and helpful to them. That’s why, here at Anna Freud, we developed My Story and Me, a digital storytelling tool that gives young women a safe space to share and explore their experiences. We’re working with over 100 young women nationwide to develop the platform and explore its impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

An empowering preventative tool

My Story and Me is a new preventative tool to empower young women and girls to share their stories, to support others that are experiencing similar challenges. We use the terms ‘women’ and ‘girls’ inclusively and welcome gender diversity.

The platform includes 50 stories from young women across the UK, including themes of identity, school and coping with challenges. By sharing their stories and watching others’ stories, My Story and Me aims to reduce stigma, improve mental health literacy and support young women to seek help. It is one of the many direct evidence-led interventions we are developing or delivering to help build and create the necessary environments where children, young people and families can feel safe, and belong.

Participation at the heart of My Story and Me

Participation is at the heart of our work at Anna Freud and young women have supported us at each stage of this project. Young women have shared their stories, helped to develop the platform and our Young People’s Advisory Group (YPAG) continues to offer guidance and advice. These young women have contributed their time and expertise to help us develop a platform that speaks to the needs of young people like them. Here, some members from the group reflect on their involvement with the project.

Evelyn said:

“Before being involved in My Story and Me, I was sceptical about how much “sharing your story” really changes anything. It’s a phrase that appears everywhere in mental health, but it often stays at the level of good intentions. What this project does differently is treat lived experience as something that can be used to build better support and not just be talked about.

“A large number of young women experience mental health difficulties, yet many still struggle to recognise their experiences in the support that’s available. That gap matters. “If you don’t see yourself reflected, you’re less likely to engage, less likely to seek help early, and more likely to feel you’re dealing with things alone. My Story and Me addresses this by grounding the intervention in real stories, so it’s shaped by the people it’s meant for rather than designed around abstract assumptions.

“The project also creates a structured, safe way for young women to record and reflect on their own experiences. That’s important because putting experiences into words isn’t just about being heard -it’s about understanding what’s actually going on and how it connects to other people’s lives. For some, that process itself can change how they think about seeking support.

“Being part of the YPAG has made the idea of #GiveToGain very concrete for me. I’ve contributed my time and experiences, but I’ve also gained a clearer perspective on my own, and more confidence in discussing mental health in a practical, non-performative way. What I value most about My Story and Me is that it treats young women as contributors, not just recipients. That makes the intervention more realistic - and more likely to work.”

Eden said:

“I’ve really enjoyed being part of the YPAG for My Story and Me and also being involved in sharing my story directly. It’s been a great way to share my own lived experience and hopefully inspire others, especially those with chronic illness or other factors, to share their stories as well.

“I think the link between physical health and mental health and how both of these impacts the other isn’t often talked about, that is why I wanted to share my story. Being part of the YPAG has been a really positive way for me to share my insight to help the project have the best overall outcome and impact.

“I think that the project is so important as it will raise awareness and help young women to open up above their own lived experiences as well as also hopefully helping them to feel seen and heard. Young women might want to share their stories through the project to amplify their voices but also support other people who might be going through similar experiences to them.

“Being able to share your story can also help the individual feel empowered and promote a sense of agency and control over their experiences. I really think that the project will have a positive impact on not, just the individual sharing their experiences, but also the people viewing the videos. Hopefully evidence can be gathered from the stories to make further positive changes too.”

Next steps and how you can help

Anna Freud is a pioneering mental health charity transforming care for children and young people through science, collaboration and clinical innovation. We focus on discovery, delivering compassionate support, and sharing our knowledge widely.

We strive for fairness and work to tackle the inequalities and inequities that exist in society today, recognising that not everyone starts in the same place.

Keep an eye out for findings from the My Story and Me feasibility study, which we’ll share on our website towards the end of this year. We would like to take the opportunity to thank all those involved in the project so far for supporting young women’s mental health and wellbeing. These contributions help us to refine My Story and Me for a future trial.

This International Women’s Day, invest in the mental wellbeing of young people, donate today.

Learn more about International Women's Day 2026 #GiveToGain