Sophia Bush is partnering with online therapy platform BetterHelp on a new initiative called The Permission Project, aimed at addressing the mental health struggles faced by women due to contradictory societal expectations. Bush highlights how women are caught in a “dichotomous trap” of needing to meet conflicting demands such as being ambitious yet likeable or speaking up while maintaining peace. These tensions contribute to rising anxiety and depression among women, with 82% and 83% reporting symptoms respectively, and a majority struggling to prioritize their own health.

Bush points out significant societal challenges that exacerbate these mental health pressures, including the rollback of women’s rights like the overturning of Roe v. Wade and rising Christian nationalism, alongside legislation such as the SAVE Act which threatens voting access for millions of married women. She emphasizes that women’s extensive emotional labor often goes unrecognized and unpaid, which dampens societal motivation to improve gender equity despite data showing that pay equity benefits everyone.

BetterHelp’s project is research-based, supported by insights from 15 licensed therapists, and offers practical tools including a Rewrite Guide developed with Bush's involvement. To bolster mental health resources for women, BetterHelp is donating 10,000 hours of free therapy and investing $100,000 in specialized therapists. Bush stresses the importance of discussing hard topics openly, believing this fosters connection and social change rather than alienation.

Reflecting on her personal journey, Bush describes self-care as an ongoing “work in progress” involving therapy, emotional mindfulness, and carving out time for joy and rest. She strives to grant herself permission to experience complex emotions and to find balance between responsibilities and self-kindness, hoping to help future generations avoid the prolonged struggle she faced. The Permission Project thus seeks to empower women to rewrite harmful societal rules and reclaim space for their mental wellbeing.