Films in Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough tackle anxiety, social media

SCARBOROUGH — The non-profit organization EmpowerME is helping to facilitate discussion around social media use and anxiety by screening films produced and directed by Scilla Andreen, CEO of IndieFlix.

“Angst” will be showing at Cape Elizabeth High School on Friday, April 26, from 6-7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion with health experts. This film focuses on breaking down the stigma of anxiety and empowering parents to educate their kids on the topic. The event is free and open to the public.

On April 25, students and community members had the chance to learn about the impact social media has on people’s lives during a showing of the documentary “Like” at Scarborough High School.

The 49-minute film has debuted in thousands of schools in more than 42 countries. It features psychologists, medical practitioners and experts in the field of social media who discuss the importance of moderating the use of technology and highlighting the effect it can have on the brain.

“I want to help build better communities, and show that we can choose kindness, moderation and good health,” Andreen said during an interview April 23. “We can make our own choices on how we choose to utilize social media and technology.”

Scarborough High School counselor Michelle Grant said social media use can trigger anxiety in vulnerable students and may have a negative impact on their personal relationships.

“Technology can be a great asset, but it’s important to practice mindfulness,” she said. “This film does a great job addressing these issues and provides good solutions for moving forward.”