HARRISBURG, May 14 – To commemorate Women’s Mental Health Week, the PA House Democratic Caucus’s 37 women undertook a special project to show solidarity with people across Pennsylvania.

The women lawmakers wrote letters to their younger selves with a lesson they wished they’d known growing up. Those letters, many filled with messages of encouragement, reassurance, resilience, faith, strength, confidence, and self-care, are displayed in an online gallery along with a portrait of each legislator. 

The legislators understand firsthand the challenges and stressors that women routinely face like building a career, running a household, raising a family, caring for aging parents, and living up to unrealistic standards in social and mass media. In honor of Mental Health Week, they remind all Pennsylvanians that no one is immune from feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, and stress; that everyone can benefit from compassion and kindness; and mental health is health.

May, as Mental Health Awareness Month, provides an opportunity to learn, act and advocate for mental well-being. Beyond modeling the value of self-care and power of vulnerability, these lawmakers are standing up for equal pay, family leave, better childcare, and a safer world for every woman and her family – no matter what they look like or who they love.

The representatives are encouraging women in their communities to join the campaign by writing a letter to their younger selves and posting it with a selfie on their social media with the hashtag #YoungerSelf.

Pennsylvania House Democrats are committed to ensuring better jobs, better schools and better communities for all Pennsylvanians. Putting people ahead of politics, House Democrats have led the charge to lower taxes, help workers save for retirement, put more teachers in local schools, and make communities safer. More information on these successful efforts is at pahouse.com/deliveringforpa.

Information provided to TVL by:
Nicole Reigelman