Now Available: The 2025 EYSC Community Engagement Series Impact Report

A growing number of young people are grappling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenge — issues intensified by the rise of screen time and social media.

Empowering Youth South Carolina (EYSC) addresses these challenges by equipping kids with the emotional skills they need to connect meaningfully with others, manage stress, and make responsible decisions. One of our most impactful initiatives is the Community Engagement Series, which features licensed screenings of the acclaimed Screenagers documentary film series, followed by expert-led discussions.

To date, EYSC has hosted over 20 free public screenings at schools, churches, police departments, and other venues. Each event features a Q&A session with expert panelists — counselors, physicians, educators, and other mental health advocates — alongside community partners who offer attendees direct access to local resources.

These events have reached thousands and prompted deeply personal conversations. Attendees often approach panelists after the sessions for guidance or support, and panelists generously donate their time to continue these vital discussions long after the event ends.

We’ve heard powerful stories:

• An 8-year-old girl asked how to help friends who vape.

• A high school freshman shared struggles with bullying.

• A junior overwhelmed by academic pressure asked how to talk to her parents.

• Several teens opened up about suicidal thoughts.

To better understand community needs and event impact, EYSC conducts post-event surveys. The results are clear:

• 100% of parents and 92.7% of students found the events helpful.

• 96.4% of parents felt better equipped to communicate with their children.

• 80.8% of students felt more confident discussing issues with their parents.

• Over 60% reported family members dealing with issues addressed in the films.

• Nearly all respondents believed others would benefit from attending.

Qualitative feedback underscores this impact:

• “The event opened my eyes to how much social media can impact my mental health.” — Student

• “This is an amazing and unique thing you’re doing. The film was very enlightening, and I really appreciated the opportunity to interact with all these professionals under one roof.” — Parent

• “The response was overwhelmingly positive. The panel discussion was extraordinarily successful. The expert panel assembled by EYSC sparked insightful dialogue amongst the attendees.” — High school principal

• “This program is worth millions — it saves lives and strengthens our community.” — Physician and panelist

In addition to providing education and support, these events offer a direct path to professional help. Each post-event survey includes an opt-in for those wanting to speak with a counselor. EYSC connects these individuals with our Mental Health Advisory Board and with on-site professionals at partner schools and churches.

This approach works. More than 20 schools and churches have already expressed interest in hosting future events, thanks largely to word of mouth and social media buzz — a testament to the program’s impact and relevance.

By continuing to host and expand these events, we can make Charleston — and eventually the entire state — a model for youth mental health support.

Click here to read the full 2025 Community Engagement Series Impact Report.