Growing up in the new world of social media and immediately accessible technology, high schoolers are facing an onslaught of anxiety-inducing stimulation caused by social media. The leadership at Wando is adapting to meet this new need.
Amy Westmoreland, the chairperson of the school’s School Improvement Council, saw a nonprofit program called “Screenagers: Next Chapter” as a method for the school to start the process of that adaptation.
“We … partnered with the Screenagers organization to present a showing,” Westmoreland said. “The reason that we [chose to show “Screenagers: Next Chapter”] is because there was an initiative at the beginning of the school year where the guidance department did an assessment for students and … they self-reported anxiety as a top concern.”
Wendy Methvin is the executive director of the social emotional learning alliance for South Carolina, or SEL4SC, the parent organization that runs showings of “Screenagers: Next Chapter” and other programs.
“[‘Screenagers’ is a] part of our community engagement series … [it is] more than just a viewing of a film [that] we provide,” Methvin said. “We give live Q&A panels with local therapists and counselors and youth leaders, and we also provide a group of community partners.”
“Screenagers: Next Chapter” is one of multiple different ‘Screenagers’ renditions that SEL4SC provides, the ‘next chapter’ focusing on mental health, anxiety and depression, especially within the context of social media and modern technology.
The school’s School Improvement Council (SIC) is hosting “Screenagers: Next Chapter” on March 24, from 6 to 8 p.m.
“[Screenagers] is approximately a two-hour event, so when people arrive, they’ll be escorted to the [Performing Arts Center (PAC)] and [they will] find a seat. The film is between 45 minutes and an hour long, and then there’s a panel of local experts … that is set up so that it’s interactive and they’ll provide information but [they will] also take questions from the audience,” Westmoreland said. “All in all, you’re looking at an hour and a half or so.”
Wando is partnering with its “feeder schools,” like Cario, Laing and Moultrie middles schools, to bring in more participants.
“’Screenagers’ is mainly [tailored towards] sixth through 12th grade, so any student who goes to Cario, Lang, Moultrie, St. James and of course Wando … will be the target ages for the March 24 presentation,” Westmoreland said, “We’re also hosting the elementary school age version in the one PAC on March 31.”
The showing is geared towards middle and high school students, but its target demographic does not stop at 12th grade.
“You should bring [your] families [too], that’s our hope, that not just the student but at least one parent and any other siblings who might benefit from it would attend as well,” Westmoreland said. “It will [also] better assist teachers and other faculty members staff at helping students recognize when they need assistance and asking for help.”
In past showings, the event has proven a way for students to directly express their own concerns.
“In one event, we had a survey respondent, a student, say that they really felt like social media was causing them to think suicidal thoughts, and that was something that was not only tragic and alarming, but we were able to immediately route that particular student to the appropriate counselor to let them know that that was happening … it could’ve been something that was life-saving,” Methvin said.
With her experience as a former teacher, Westmoreland has a unique perspective on the need for the program.
“I know that feeling when you see a student who is anxious, depressed, needs help and really doesn’t know how to get that help, so I’m very excited that we can offer this,” Westmoreland said. “We just see this is a great way for [students] to better equip themselves in dealing with daily life, and that really is the most important thing; helping all the students feel comfortable and safe with what they can do every day [so they have] the best day possible.”
