MENTAL HEALTH For College Students

Salisbury University to address the issue of MENTAL HEALTH for college students
Campus to welcome popular national speaker/author ROSS SZABO

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 3:30 P.M., GUERRIRI UNIVERSITY CENTER

** SZABO ALSO AVAILABLE FOR RELATED INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL MEDIA
Trend stories / mental health, campus violence, teen suicide, depression, MORE

ROSS SZABO, popular national speaker and author of the just-released book, "BEHIND HAPPY FACES: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health (a guide for young adults)," will appear at Salisbury University in Salisbury TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 23. Szabo's presentation, "What Happy Faces are Hiding," will take place at 3:30 p.m. in the Wicomico Room of the Guerreri University Center. The event, CLOSED to Salisbury students and staff, is being sponsored by Salisbury Greek Life and the Student Government Association. [Any media wishing to attend and/or interview Ross Szabo may make arrangements by contacting either Lori Radcliff or Justin Bullock at the numbers listed above.]

In the wake of April's Virginia Tech tragedy, Columbine and other incidents in recent years including the shooting at a high school in Cleveland just this past week--focusing on the mental health of young adults is all the more important these days. It is becoming increasingly clear that mental health issues in our schools have reached epidemic proportions. Perhaps the most startling evidence is that suicide is a leading cause of death among students aged 15-24, according to a recent study by the American Association of Suicidology. Many students do not discuss their problems, which may include depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, sleep deprivation and more. Unfortunately, stigma is the largest barrier to seeking help. Szabo is doing whatever he can -- to help change that.

“It’s important we remove the fear and shame often associated with mental illness, and communicate to every young person that it’s OK not to feel OK,” says Szabo. “Help is out there, and they can move forward. Most importantly, they need to know they’re not alone.”


Szabo is one of the top speakers in the country on the college circuit, and serves as Director of Youth Outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign (NMHAC). He comes to Salisbury shortly after his appearance on the CBS EARLY SHOW, where he discussed the issue of back-to-school stress, and what parents, friends, and others can do if they are concerned a student may be at risk for developing a serious mental health issue. Szabo's mission is to help young people to better understand and break through the negative stigma associated with mental illness, so that they may feel free to seek the help they need.


For more information on Ross Szabo and "BEHIND HAPPY FACES," please visit www.behindhappyfaces.com.

RELATED PRESS RELEASE:
http://www.bonusbooks.com/pressreleases1005.asp?ReleaseID=86

BIO: ROSS SZABO's dynamic, relatable presentations and inspiring personal account of his experiences with mental illness have made him one of the top speakers on the college circuit—leading him to be named “Best Male Performer” by CAMPUS ACTIVITIES Magazine earlier this year. He is the only speaker to have addressed well over 500,000 students, parents, teachers and administrators about the issue of mental health in just the last six years. Szabo confronted the stigma of mental illness at an early age. A popular student leader and athlete, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 16. After graduating cum laude with a B.A. in psychology from American University in 2002, he set out on a full-time mission to speak out about mental health issues—in an effort to reach young people who are struggling to deal with their problems, and eradicate needless stereotypes. He has been interviewed/featured by CBS, CNN, MTV, FOX News, SEVENTEEN Magazine, PARADE Magazine and more. He is also a featured guest blogger for The Huffington Post and RevolutionHealth.com. His newly released book, "BEHIND HAPPY FACES" (Volt Press, $14.95), has already been praised by several prominent mental health authors/advocates, including Tipper Gore.