On Thursday, January 25, Shaler Area Middle School brought important topics to light through a dynamic assembly. Saltworks Theater fosters discussion around the pressures teens and preteens face and the effect this can have on their mental health through the presentation When Panic Attacks.

Students are facing increased pressure for acceptance. Social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat can present an idealized version of the lives of influencers and friends alike. The pressure to fit in can lead students to develop anxiety, negative body image, and a preoccupation with social media. When Panic Attacks addresses these issues through the lives of students who have experienced them and reached out for help.

This assembly at Shaler Area Middle School was particularly special because not only is this a wonderful organization that provides outstanding assemblies, but two of the actors, Shane Callahan and Lexie Hellinger, are also Shaler Area graduates.

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