Article published Sep 27, 2007
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Speaker seeks to give young people power for good mental health.
ANITA MUNSON
Tribune Staff Writer
CULVER -- Ross Szabo is a young man whose passion about changing young people's minds about mental illness has also changed his own life.
The director of youth outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign easily won over students at Culver Academies Wednesday afternoon with his machine-gun delivery, his ability to reach the audience in its own youthful language, and his call to "change these stereotypes in your own life."
Szabo spoke to the all-school assembly in Eppley Auditorium from the perspective of "been there, done that." Using his own battle in achieving sound mental health, he said he came not to preach but to provide options.
Admitting he's a motivational speaker, Szabo said that when he thinks of the term, "I think Chris Farley (in his role of Matt Foley)," and not the staid, traditional type of how-I-found-success speaker.
"I think, what would Dave Chappelle do if he had my job," Szabo said, launching into an impression that left students laughing out loud.Making the transition to the serious topic, Szabo said one in five high school students suffers from some form of mental disorder, and seven out of 10 high-school-aged drug or alcohol abusers have mental health issues.
He asked students if they knew anyone who participated in binge drinking, use of drugs, or even cutting themselves. Raised hands filled the auditorium.
"Here's the interactive part," Szabo continued. "About 70 percent of all people don't talk about it. Why?"
Students responded quickly: Embarrassment; difficulty with talking about emotions; they don't want to be judged by their peers; it's nobody's business but their own; societal pressures; and more.
American society places "a huge focus on external things" such as money, clothes, status and power, he said."But if you have problems inside, it doesn't matter ...," Szabo added.
Szabo, who has appeared on CNN, MTV and CBS, then said if the students saw someone whose "shin bone" was sticking out through his leg, they wouldn't hesitate to get him to the hospital. And, he said, the brain is every bit as important to heal as any other part of the body.
"But we're deathly afraid to talk about our emotions ... when we don't understand them," he explained. "But they're still there ... so the earlier you find a way to deal with them, the better off you are."
Szabo said another reason to find help is that 80 percent to 90 percent of people seeking such help today and receive it are able to return to functioning and living "normal" lives.
He said that all America sees are the people like those who commit killings on college campuses.Szabo said he and his older brother were both diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The brother was in college and was hospitalized, but later returned to complete a degree in physics. He's now working on a doctorate in astrophysics.
Szabo said he was diagnosed at age 16, and was hospitalized during his senior year in high school for wanting to take his own life. He went on to college, relapsed, recuperated and graduated cum laude in psychology from American University in 2002.
He pleaded with his audience to take time to do something positive for themselves, to seek help if needed.
He warned that the road would be rough, and it would take strength to travel it.
"It takes more strength to be different than to hide what you're going through," he continued. "But you don't have to be afraid.