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New Book Now Available! "Behind Happy Faces: Co-written with Melanie Hall, "BEHIND HAPPY FACES" serves as a natural companion and extension of Szabo's popular live presentations. An accessible and comforting resource for young adults, Szabo believes this book will aid parents, teachers, counselors and administrators in gaining a better understanding of these important emotional issues. What Happy
Faces Are Hiding:
“As he speaks out across the
country to young people about mental
illness, Ross will play a significant
and important role in the ongoing
effort to overcome stigma and Tipper Gore, Honorary Chair
Ross's message is something that everyone should hear. Those who attended Ross's presentation on campus took his message to heart and were challenged to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness while also realizing that mental health is an integral aspect of our lives--especially for college students. We look forward to inviting Ross back to campus next year! Kayla Flynn I have been at Bowdoin for three years have heard so many speakers, and Ross was the absolute best. The best in terms of his presentation skills as well as the content of his talk. He tells his story as a means of discussing mental health, not from a standpoint of "here's my reality, isn't it sad;" but rather, he is able to get students to think about their own reality. And that's the power in his talk. Anne Peacock Ross Szabo has been encouraging college students to open dialogue about depression and suicide for years. Diagnosed bipolar at age 16, Ross has learned first hand about the intricacies of mental disorders. Using his own struggles as the backdrop, Ross helps students gain a better understanding of depression. "I am someone who took a leave of absence from college due to a depressive episode, then recovered and returned to earn a degree. I am a success story just like many others who seek help," Ross said. Ross was incredible and his story was poignant! He was funny,
engaging and spoke the language of modern college students. He challenged each of us to take personal responsibility for our own mental health and for
ending the stigma of mental disorders. Yet, he did it in a way that was Kelly Mattis As Ross teaches students about the complexities of depression empowers them to seek help or help their friends seek help. Depression is highly treatable, but too often remains hidden in silence preventing people from achieving the recovery they are capable of. The program focuses specifically on mental health, and how the societal stereotypes can lead to increased loneliness, isolation, and suicide. Ross uses tasteful humor and insights to help participants understand common mental health conditions and individual differences. He also covers warning signs that students can look for in their friends and peers, as well as resources that can provide guidance in these sensitive situations. Mixed Drinks, Mixed Emotions:Alcohol Abuse and Mental Health How many times have you seen a friend openly discuss all of their emotions while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and never talk about it again? Sometimes they forget what they have said. Other times they are too afraid to deal with it. A lot of times people are more comfortable addressing their emotions while they are inebriated. Self-medication has been one way college students have coped with difficult situations for many years, but it doesn't have to continue. Over two-thirds of young people with a substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental health issue. It is important to address the reasons why students may be binge-drinking, abusing substances, driving under the influence and engaging in negative behavior. The average college student today is facing overwhelming amounts of stress, workloads, transition, pressure and mental health problems. Often times they suffer in silence. Hiding their fears until they become too large to deal with. “The program had a profound impact on the students and staff that attended. Issues surrounding Mental Health are everywhere on campus. It was great to try and bring those out into the open and have students learn to support each other… Ross has a way of speaking to you that makes you fell comfortable immediately… He was wonderful to work with- very friendly, outgoing, funny and kind.” Keri Fadden This program addresses the ties between substance abuse and mental health. Ross Szabo has been speaking about this issue to hundreds of thousands of young people all over the country. His goal is to break down the stereotypes surrounding expression of emotion in order to help young people function at their highest level. Students will learn about mental disorders, positive coping mechanisms and the best ways to open communication amongst their peers. This program is
perfect for residence life, staff training, health awareness weeks,
peer education programming, Greek life, and more. |
Depression and suicide are
two of the largest problems facing colleges today. One in 10
college students experience depression and millions more report feeling
overwhelmed. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in
college students. Depression also has large ties to over 66%
of young people with a substance use problem. While 85% of colleges
have reported drastic increases in the amount of young people seeking
mental health counseling, understanding and awareness about the issue
are still lacking. During these difficult times, it is imperative
for young people to express what they are going through, know that
they are not alone, and feel comfortable while seeking help.
