The Big Picture is a dynamic community outreach and health educational tool focused on promoting adolescent health and well-being. These videos are designed to raise awareness of health trends and common challenges experienced during adolescence, promote positive health choices, and encourage teens and parents to reach out for help when needed.
Perhaps most amazingly, these are the words and perspectives of teens themselves. Videos are written and performed by high school students in the Charlotte, NC, community. Students learn about these topics from Teen Health Connection’s health educators while reviewing data from the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
Special thanks to Kim Brattain Media for helping Teen Health Connection share the powerful voices of our Charlotte teens.
Learn more about the history of The Big Picture through our documentary and by going “behind the scenes” to see how these videos were created.
Behavioral Health
Did you know that about 64% of US adults reported they had experienced at least one type of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) before age 18, and nearly 1 in 6 (17.3%) reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs? The following vignettes discuss topics of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide, which might be especially troubling for some viewers. We hope that by talking about these topics, we can have more open dialogue with teens about behavioral health and the importance of reaching out for help.
If you or someone you love has thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 9-8-8. This number connects you to local crisis resources in our community.
Behavioral Health Videos
Adolescent Wellness
The videos in this section focus on issues such as healthy relationships, empowerment, social media challenges, and transitioning to adulthood. The adolescent years are extremely important, and extremely challenging. Teens are learning to share their voice, become independent, and make difficult decisions that will impact their lives today and in the future. At the same time, they are facing social, academic, and emotional pressures. According to the 2023 YRBS data, among North Carolina high school students over age 18, 45% felt so sad or hopeless for two weeks that they stopped their usual activities. These videos are designed to provide resources and support adolescent wellbeing.
Adolescent Wellness Videos
Adolescent Medicine
At Teen Health Connection, we focus on empowering teens to take charge of their physical and behavioral health. Use of drugs and alcohol at an early age has a significant impact on teens and can lead to long term memory and learning issues and overall wellbeing. In addition, sleep is a critical factor in adolescent success. In fact, in North Carolina 53% of middle school students and 79% of high school students report not getting enough sleep. Other significant issues impacting adolescents include reproductive health and open, honest conversations about sex. These videos focus on each of these issues and how we empower adolescents to be healthy, safe, and successful.
Adolescent Medicine Videos
Body Image and Healthy Eating
According to the National Organization for Women Foundation, by age 13, 53% of girls report being unhappy with their bodies. That number increases to 78% by age 17. These videos focus on being comfortable and confident in our own bodies and not what others think or say. Our bodies are what make us unstoppable. Teen Health Connection has resources and services to support teens in making healthy eating decisions based on what’s best for each individual.
