How you feel about yourself impacts everything you do. When you have positive self-esteem, you can face challenges with confidence and energy. Self-esteem is something you start to form during your elementary and middle school years. Understanding that this is an important time in a young woman’s life, Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital created the Be Your Self program. Designed primarily for girls between the ages of 9 -17, the program helps girls:

• Respond to social and personal pressures about body image
• Understand the difference between body characteristics and self-image
• Learn about eating disorders and how to get help for themselves or a friend (middle and high school only)
• Develop a healthy connection between feelings and food
• Build positive coping skills
• Realize the difference between true beauty and the unrealistic images they see on television and in magazines
• Learn how to make healthy food and exercise choices

Be Your Self gives girls a voice and the opportunity to respond through creative expression and thought-provoking, fun activities. The program provides an environment where girls can speak out about their strengths and appreciate the importance of their ideas and individuality. The goal of Be Your Self is to give girls the tools they need to make healthy decisions for themselves -- physically, emotionally, and socially.

Women & Babies Hospital offers Be Your Self collaboratively through schools, community agencies, religious and other organized groups. To learn more about how you can bring this program to young women you care about, contact Karen Heinle at (717) 544-3650 or kfheinle@lancastergeneral.org.

Request Information