About Ross Szabo
Talking about emotions can be a challenge, but Ross’s brutally honest, relatable and humorous approach puts audiences at ease as they confront a difficult topic.
When Ross was a freshman in college, everything on the surface seemed to be fine. He was making friends, getting good grades and had a fun social life. However, no one could have imagined how many emotions he was suppressing. Ross was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 16, was hospitalized for attempting to take his own life during his senior year of high school, and like so many other freshman, just wanted to fit in. He tried to hide what he was feeling to convince everyone that everything was ok, but that can only last for so long. Ross’s story resonates with the millions of college students who are putting on a happy face to hide their true emotions.
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.
Ross is NOW the CEO of the Human Power Project. He is an award-winning mental health speaker, writer, trainer and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Ross has spoken to more than 1 million students about the importance of mental health and provided a positive example to empower them to seek help. He received the 2010 Didi Hirsch Removing the Stigma Leadership Award, 2012 Changing Minds Award and had his advocacy work entered into the Congressional Record. He is the co-author of Behind Happy Faces; Taking Charge of Your Mental Health and a blogger for The Huffington Post.
For more information visit: TopYouthSpeakers.com
Ross will be on campus Tuesday, March 25th, to offer a workshop geared towards faculty and staff but open to all CWRU, CIA, CIM, and KSU School of Podiatry community members. He will also be giving a keynote lecture in the evening geared towards and open to all CWRU, CIA, CIM, and KSU School of Podiatry students, faculty, and staff.
For more information about the two events, please see below.
Ross was a teenager who appeared to have everything going for him on the outside. He was a class president, a varsity basketball player, and volunteered to help others. On the inside, he hid crippling bouts of depression and bipolar disorder that led to him attempting to take his own life when he was a senior in high school. He struggled alone until adults were able to connect with him.
Ross turned his experiences as a teen into an opportunity to educate others. He created the first public health approach to addressing mental health education in schools. He developed a mental health curriculum that is used internationally. Now, he’s a founding faculty member of a middle school/high school that is focused on integrating wellness education into every classroom. This program gives a powerful exploration of what it’s like to be a teen who is burying their problems and a teacher who is designing evidence-based programs to improve mental health in order to reach the teens who need it the most.
Learning Outcomes:
- Discuss the barriers that often prevent young people from addressing their emotions.
- Describe the development of emotional regulation in teens.
- Explain steps an adult can take to help a young person with their mental health.
- Apply one’s own story as a strength in normalizing mental health for others.
- Open to all CWRU, CIA, CIM and KSU podiatry faculty and staff.
Date: Tuesday, March 25
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: TVUC Ballroom C
Register by clicking here
Food Provided
From the outside, Ross Szabo seemed to have a perfect life. He was successful, well-liked and a leader in his community. Underneath his easy-going appearance, he was hiding an immense amount of pain.
Ross’s presentation traces how mental health disorders and trauma can impact a person from a young age and the consequences those issues have throughout every phase of life. He talks about being born into a family with a history of mental health disorders/addiction, being diagnosed with bipolar disorder when he was 16, and attempting to take his own life in his senior year of high school.
Ross’s struggles continued into his 20’s and the damage experienced during that time is something he is still processing today. During his most difficult times, he tried to hide what he was feeling to convince everyone that everything was ok, but that can only last for so long. Ross’s story resonates with the millions of people who are putting on a happy face to hide their true emotions.
Mental health challenges are one of the largest problems facing our society. Twenty to twenty-five percent of people experience a mental health disorder each year. Suicide is a leading cause of death. Outside of diagnosable disorders people are dealing with a lack of sleep, stress, and substance abuse.
During these difficult times, it is imperative for people to express what they are going through, know that they are not alone, and feel comfortable while seeking help. It is ok to not be ok.
Ross uses tasteful humor and insights to help participants understand common mental health conditions and individual differences. His presentation teaches a clear definition of mental health, a new vocabulary to help people talk about mental health the same way they talk about physical health, an emphasis on using good stress in your life, and how to develop effective coping mechanisms. He uses his personal story to help people think about the choices that they are making in their lives. Most importantly, he empowers people to take action to take charge of their mental health.
Learning Outcomes:
- Be able to define mental health as how we address and balance all of the challenges in our lives.
- Discuss the largest barriers preventing people from seeking help for their mental health.
- Recognize the different mental health challenges students are experiencing.
- Lessen the stigma surrounding mental health by hearing a first hand account of a person who is functioning well despite having a diagnosed mental health disorder.
- Identify the steps that are necessary to change ineffective coping mechanisms.
- Open to all CWRU, CIA, CIM and KSU podiatry students, faculty and Staff.
Date: Tuesday, March 25
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Linsalata Ballroom
Register by clicking here
Food Provided