Charleston County to host screenings of a new documentary focused on teens dealing with stress, anxiety and depression

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Right now, record numbers of young people are dealing with unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, anger, depression, and other mental health issues that can lead to negative — and often tragic — outcomes if not properly addressed.

With that in mind, the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for South Carolina (SEL4SC) is hosting multiple public and private screenings of the documentary films Screenagers Next Chapter and Screenagers Under the Influence throughout the rest of the year. 

Filmmaker and physician Dr. Delaney Ruston takes the conversation around screens and teens to the next level with Screenagers Next Chapter: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience — a film that examines the science behind teen’s emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age. The Screenagers: Under the Influence documentary addresses vaping, drugs in the digital age and examines how technology shapes substance use by teenagers.

Dates, Times and Locations:

• Mount Pleasant Police Department – Next Chapter; private screening – August 21, 2023
• Camp Road Middle School – Next Chapter; public screening – September 21, 2023
• Lucy Beckham High School – Next Chapter; public screening – October 2023
• Seacoast Church Mount Pleasant – Under the Influence; public screening – October 25, 2023

“These films are invaluable tools in helping parents and children have meaningful discussions about crucial mental and emotional health issues,” says Wendy Methvin, executive director of SEL4SC. “We are honored to have an opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of families across South Carolina with this series.”

Screenagers uses a distribution model limited to community settings. This model brings parents, kids, teens, educators, and other professionals together to start a conversation about how the issues raised in the films impact their lives and what they can do about it. The films are primarily shown in schools, churches, synagogues, community centers, and other local settings. Parents are encouraged to bring their kids to the screenings.

Facts discussed in the films include:

• Since 2011, there has been a 59% increase in teens reporting depressive symptoms.
• Scientific data shows that 2+ hours a day on social media correlates with a higher chance of having unhappy feelings.
• Teens say their main way of coping with stress is to turn to a screen—this is concerning for many reasons and we need to ensure they have other coping skills.
• 90% of smokers start before 18. 
• Flavors and high nicotine concentrations are banned in most countries, but not the US. 
• One vape pen has as much nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes. 
• Higher THC concentrations are linked to an increased risk of frequent use and brain changes.
• When teens suppress emotions, research shows it negatively impacts their school work and other cognitive tasks.
• Just like toddlers’ brains are primed to learn languages, teenage brains are primed for learning skills to navigate complicated emotions.
• A recent study shows that when parents jump in, their stress goes down but their kid’s stress goes up.

Parents, students, educators, PTAs, religious organizations, medical practices, and workplace groups in South Carolina can book their own screenings of Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER and Under the Influence by contacting Wendy Methvin, Executive Director of SEL4SC at wmethvin@sel4sc.org. 

Click links to view trailers:
Screenagers Next Chapter: https://www.screenagersmovie.com/nc-trailer

Screenagers Under the Influence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR7uxuFqatY