Teaming up to improve access to mental health services

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) is partnering with BIO Girls to support improving the mental health of adolescent girls through empowerment of self and connection with others. For every save made by the Bismarck Bobcats, Fargo Force, UND Fighting Hawks and Minot Minotauros during their home games in March, our BCBSND Caring Foundation will donate $50 to BIO Girls. We’re proud to commit to making a meaningful impact on their mental health programming.

Proudly partnering with BIO Girls for the 2026 season

Shut Out the Stigma saves scoreboard

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Mental health tips

Provided by BIO Girls
Resources, tools, programs and events on their website

Tips for adolescent friendships:

Model healthy relationships – Show kindness, honesty and respectful boundaries in your own friendships. Kids learn what healthy connections look like by watching adults they trust.
Encourage open conversation – Ask about their friends, listen without judgment and create a safe space for sharing. This helps them feel supported and confident navigating social challenges.
Recognize warning signs – Pay attention if they withdraw, seem anxious about peers or lose interest in social time. Early awareness can prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones.

Upset woman frustrated by problem sitting on couch, embracing knees,

Tips for social media:

Build media awareness – Talk about filters, highlight reels and how online content rarely shows the full story. Understanding this helps separate reality from appearance-based pressure.
Set healthy boundaries – Co-create rules such as “device-free dinners,” “no phones 30 minutes before bed” or “screen-free times.” Predictable limits help develop self-control and reduce anxiety. Teach them to mute, block or unfollow accounts that make them feel bad.
Reflect before posting – Before posting, encourage the act of pausing and asking:
- Does this post say something about myself, or am I trying to prove myself?
- Am I trying to connect or compete?
- Does this post say what I think, or am I trying to see what others think of me?
- Am I seeking approval from an external source?

Tips for body image

Celebrate function over form – Praise what their body can do, not just how it looks. Focusing on abilities (running, playing, hugging) promotes confidence and self-worth.
Challenge comparison – Help them notice negative self-talk and encourage self-kindness. They need guidance to combat social pressures and develop a positive self-image.
Model balanced habits – Show healthy eating, rest and movement without guilt or restriction. Your example teaches sustainable, positive routines that support both body and mind.