Tue, Mar 25, 2025

12 PM – 1 PM EDT (GMT-4)

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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.
Food Provided

Speakers

Ross Szabo's profile photo

Ross Szabo

CEO

Human Power Project


Ross Szabo Bio



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




 

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