The Big Picture: Promoting Adolescent Health in the Social Media Era
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (9:00 AM - 10:30 AM) (EDT)
Description
Join us, the Wellness Committee, Programs Committee, and Teen Health Connection in partnership with Mecklenburg County on August 19 from 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at Alchemy CoWorking for The Big Picture: Promoting Adolescent Health in the Social Media Era. In this workshop we will explore the implications of social media on prevalent health issues facing teens. This event will be held in-person and through Zoom. We will be using educational tools from The Big Picture, a health education video series produced by Teen Health Connection and written and performed by local high school students, to illustrate and discuss concepts such as adolescent relationships, behavioral health, online bullying, interpersonal violence, and the experience and re-experience of trauma from an adolescent perspective.
Workshop participants will recognize how social media shapes and impacts the adolescent experience, particularly interpersonal relationships and behavioral health by:
- Understanding the various pathways through which social media impacts adolescent health and relationships.
- Analyzing the impact of problematic social media use on cyberbullying, intimate partner violence, trauma-exposure, and behavioral health among teens.
- Developing practical strategies for discussing and navigating issues with social media with teens.
Registration is required for this free community event.
Event Agenda:
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. | Networking
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Presentation
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Q&A Session
Event Host and Sponsor:
Date: August 19, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Alchemy Co-Working or Zoom
2459 Wilkinson Blvd.
Charlotte NC, 28208
Free parking in the parking lot. Park in the back of the building for the main entrance and take the elevator to the 3rd floor.
Speakers
Dr. Jennifer Thomas, PhD | Executive Director at Teen Health Connection
Dr. Jennifer Thomas brings over 15 years of experience as a behavioral health care leader and licensed psychologist focusing on adolescents and their families. Dr. Thomas was recently named as the next Executive Director at Teen Health Connection in Charlotte, NC, and she started this role on December 1, 2025. At Teen Health Connection, Dr. Thomas is motivated by the organization’s mission to empower every adolescent to be healthy, safe, and successful. In her free time, she enjoys spender time and traveling with her family (the beach and Disney World are family favorites). At The Big Picture: Promoting Adolescent Health in the Social Media Era, Dr. Thomas will share her knowledge on how social media can affect adolescent behavioral health, emphasize the impacts of depression and trauma, and provide community mental health resources such as psychotherapy and more.
Betsy K. Thompson, M.Ed, LCMHC | Manager of Behavioral Health Services at Teen Health Connection
Betsy Thompson is the Manager of Behavioral Health Services for Teen Health Connection, where she leads a team of 10 licensed therapists. Over her 11 years in this role, she has overseen significant program growth, expanding the team from three clinicians to a robust, multidisciplinary group to better meet the increasing behavioral health needs of adolescents in the community. Drawing on her years of experience, Betsy has presented at local, state and national conferences, as well as for school districts and community organizations. During the event, Betsy will discuss how the community can create strategies on supporting teens using social media.
Free community event!
2459 Wilkinson Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28208 United States
Free parking in the parking lot. Park in the back of the building for the main entrance and take the elevator to the 3rd floor.
9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
3 See Attendee List