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For Immediate Release: March 28th, 2023

Media Inquiries: Amanda Crowley Email: crowleya@oacsd.org Phone: 516-320-0243
Let’s Talk: Anxiety Awareness
Open discussions for awareness of anxiety, resource management, and when to reach out.
Owego, NY
Student’s being bullied online, 17%. Bullying that occurs at school, 21%. Students feeling as if
they are sad and hopeless, 35% (High School YRBS New York 2019 Results, 2019). This,
among with various other factors such as socialization with peers, course work, and athletics are
topics that students at Owego Free Academy face every day, can plumet mental health, and
skyrocket rates of anxiety. Anxiety and how to manage it is something that is not spoken enough
about in this community. In the United States, anxiety affects 6.8 million people, however, only
43.2% of those suffering seek treatment (Anxiety Disorders - Facts & Statistics , 2022). Why is
this? Resources on anxiety recognition, coping mechanisms, and treatment options are scarce and
or unknown to those in the Owego community. Residents of Tioga County have reported that
mental health concerns and availability for help is a top health concern, according to the Tioga
County Health Report (Tioga County, NY Community Health Assessement, 2019). While
interviewing high school senior Christopher Wellsley, he stated “I felt so stressed applying for
college this past fall, my heart felt like it would burst out of my chest, I was super irritable
towards my parents and friends, I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t pay attention in class, it all just felt too
much, I didn’t know how to fix it”. What Chris may not have known at the time was that he was
suffering from symptoms of anxiety. Many students share these same feelings and concerns as
Chris for many different reasons, and have no means of seeking help.
The community of Owego and Owego Free Academy High School have teamed together to help
students like Chris, as well as all community members to learn about anxiety and how it can
impact them, as well as resource management to help cope and overcome their symptoms.
Heather Z, the Mental Health Counselor and Behavioral Health Specialist contracted to the High
School has been hosting open support groups at the high school on the second Monday of every
month after school to provide support to the middle and high school students. Additionally, on
the last Friday of every month, Heather will host open support groups for all members of the
community at the Boy’s and Girls Club located at 201 Erie St, Owego, NY, 13827, at 7pm. Here,
Heather will help individuals detect anxiety, and provide resources on how to cope as well as
where to seek further help if needed. Join us in talking anxiety awareness before it’s too late!

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Owego Free Academy, 1 Sheldon Guile Blvd, Owego, NY, 13827
https://www.oacsd.org/o/ofa
Tioga County Boys & Girls Club, 201 Erie St, Owego, NY, 13827
https://www.tiogabgca.org/
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 Bibliography
Anxiety Disorders - Facts & Statistics . (2022, October 28). Retrieved from Anxiety &
Depression Association of America: https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-
statistics#:~:text=Facts%20and%20Statistics&text=%2D%20GAD%20affects%206.8%2
0million%20adults,to%20be%20affected%20as%20men.
High School YRBS New York 2019 Results. (2019). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention: https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/app/Results.aspx?LID=NY
(2019). Tioga County, NY Community Health Assessement. Tioga .