Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health

by Ross E Szabo, Melanie Hall

Overview

Mental health is important for everyone, but the truth is, sometimes it's hard to talk about it or admit you're having problems. You're afraid of being judged or worried no one will understand. And if you're like a lot of people, you put on a happy face and try to act like everything is OK, even when it isn't. It's OK not to be OK. School, family, relationships and lack of sleep take a toll on mental health. Many people are struggling with anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, addictions, eating disorders or other serious problems. You may not always know how to deal, who to tell or what you should do. You're not alone. Behind Happy Faces takes on the most common emotional concerns expressed by millions of young adults. You will learn:

A vast overview of mental health challenges

The reasons people hide their emotions and how to break them down

How people of different genders, races, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation are impacted by mental health

Steps you can take for yourself if you are experiencing a menta health disorder

What you can do if a friend or family member is suffering

How mental health issues impact relationships and what you can do to build healthy relationships

Ways to get involved and discourage negative stereotypes

Ross Szabo and other people who have been impacted by mental health issues will inspire you with their stories of dealing with mental health disorders and facing challenges like breakups, divorced parents, losing a loved one or just figuring out how to express feelings. They learned how to take charge of their mental health and they share practical ways for you to do the same.

Our hope is that this book will give you the courage to address the issues that have kept you from living the life you want, the courage to stop pretending that everything is OK (even when it's not) and more importantly, to stop hiding your true emotions...behind a happy face.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566253055
Publisher:	Taylor Trade Publishing
Publication date:	12/25/2007
Pages:	264
Sales rank:	552,331
Product dimensions:	5.36(w) x 8.42(h) x 0.64(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Ross Szabo is a social innovator who pioneered the youth mental health movement. He is the Wellness Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA. Ross is also an award winning speaker, author and the CEO of Human Power Project, a company that designs mental health curriculum. Ross turned a diagnosis of bipolar disorder with anger control problems and psychotic features at age 16, into an opportunity to educate others. His natural ability to make mental health approachable for large groups of people has led to countless media appearances. Ross has spoken to more than 2 million people about the importance of mental health and provided a positive example to empower them to seek help. During his 8 years as Director of Outreach fir the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, he created the first national youth mental health speakers' bureau in the country that is now a part of Active Minds. He has trained over 50 mental health advocates who have spoken to millions of people. Ross is the co-author of Behind Happy Faces; Taking Charge of Your Mental Health and a blogger for The Huffington Post. His tremendous efforts in the mental health field have led to him receiving the 2010 Didi Hirsch Removing the Stigma Leadership Award, 2012 Changing Minds Award and his advocacy work was entered into the Congressional Record by Congressman Patrick Kennedy. Human Power Project's first curriculum titled, Behind Happy Faces, is being utilized by over 200,000 students. The curriculum received the Excellence in Education Award from the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors. It is used at numerous colleges including; Cornell University, M.I.T., the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, Oregon State University and UC Irvine. Behind Happy Faces is also used at top private schools, public school districts and was featured at Lady Gaga's Born This Way Retreat.

Table of Contents

PROLOGUE- xiii

Ross Szabo-xiii

Melanie Hall- xv

INTRODUCTION- xvii

CHAPTER 1

Staring Into the Abyss-21

The facts about mental health disorders-21

Ross's story-21

Why do I need to worry about mental health?-23

Coping mechanisms-26

What is a mental health disorder?-30

Common mental health disorders-31

You are not alone- 36

CHAPTER 2

There's nothing wrong with me:

The reasons we hide-41

Why is it so hard to seek help?-44

"People will think I'm crazy"-44

"It's not that big of a deal"-50

"People will think I'm weak"-54

"I can't trust anyone"-58

"I can't find the words"-63

"I hate myself"-69

If you're scared to seek help-71

If someone you know is scared to seek help-72

Help is out there-73

CHAPTER 3

No One is Alone

Gender, Race, Class & Sexuality-75

Ross's story-75

Common negative stereotypes about mental illness-78

Whay you don't know about women-79

Big boys do cry and can hug it out-83

Does race matter?-88

Don't be fooled by the rock that they got-90

Does being poor mean there's no hope for me?-92

Sexual orientation-95

The real truth: mental health is an equal opportunity issue-97

CHAPTER 4

Surviving the Storm

Dealing With a Mental Health Disorder-99

Ross's story-99

Determining your best action plan-103

Seek help-104

Understand the diagnosis is only a starting point-109

Educate yourself about your medication-111

Learn about your disorder-adjust your lifestyle-115

Cooperate with your mental health professional-119

Develop friendships with people other than your therapist-122

You are NOT your disorder-126

Maintenance-127

Hope is on the way-131

CHAPTER 5

THE F WORD

Families-135

Ross's story-135

Families and mental health-138

When parents don't know what to do-139

If you're on your own-144

How to help a sibling deal with your disorder-149

The flip side-152

If your parent is sufffering-152

If your sibling is suffering-156

Family matters-161

CHAPTER 6

CONNECTING WITH YOUR CORE GROUP

Real Friendships-163

Ross's story-163

Friendships and mental health-166

Pain knows pain: destructive friendships-167

Finding others like you-169

Will your friend understand your problems?- 172

What happens when your friend leaves you?-176

Communication is key-178

If your friend has a mental health disorder-180

When your friend shuts you out-183

If your friend talks about suicide-189

Get by with a little help from your friends-190

CHAPTER 7

CRAZY IN LOVE

Relationships and mental health-191

Ross's story-191

That lovin' feeling-194

Love hurts: surviving a breakup-195

A dangerous bond-198

You hate me, I hate me-200

How do I tell the person I love about my mental health disorder?-203

You will love again: staying positve after a breakup-205

If you're worried about your partner-206

Deciding to end an unhealthy relationship-209

Moving beyond your scars-213

Love lifts us up-215

The power of commitment-216

CONCLUSION-219

EPILOGUE-223

RESOURCES AND WAYS TO GET INVOLVED-227-236

Editorial Reviews

"Mental illness among young people is epidemic. Too often, those who are afflicted are ashamed, too often, they isolate themselves, and too often the results are catastrophic. Frank, honest and informative, Behind Happy Faces will mitigate that shame and isolation, and so head off those dark results."

-Andrew Solomon

Author, The Nonday Demon An Atlas of Depression. Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity

"Behind Happy Faces removes the stigma surrounding mental disorders and stimulates dialogue about these issues among high school and college students. Szabo and Hall are dynamic advocates for young people everywhere."

Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D.

President, Child Mind Institute

"An inspirational read for all young adults as well as parents, teachers, family and friends, Behind Happy Faces provides tools for seeking help and gives hope for recovery. Ross is living proof that with treatment, young adults with mental health issues can be highly functional and lead fulfilling, productive lives."

-Tipper Gore

Photographer, Author and Mental Health Advocate

"Mental disorders are treatable and don't have to define one's life. Behind Happy Faces provides young people with an intimate glimpse into what it means to have an emotional disorder and empowers them to overcome the stugma to get the help they need."

-Donna Satow

Co-founder, The Jed Foundation

"Ross Szabo has a true gift for getting through and Behind Happy Faces allows him to communicate beyond the walls of a full school assembly. His book will most certainly reach you and it will help you reach others. If it is understanding and compassion you seek, look no further."

-Lizzie Simon

Author, Detour: My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D

"Szabo's enthralling narrative draws its strength from the power of his personal story, and the honesty with which he and the other young people represented in the book challenge the myths and stereotypes surrounding mental illness. This powerful book deserves the widest possible audience."

-Gail Griffith

Author, Will's Choice A Suicidal Teen, a Desperate Mother, and a Chronicle of Recovery

From the Publisher

Gr 7 Up- Information about mental illness is interspersed with first-person narratives, including the story of Szabo's own bipolar disorder, from a "rock bottom" experience to diagnosis, treatment, struggle, and his eventual ability not only to live with his condition, but also to thrive. The book discusses the symptoms of common disorders, resistance to seeking help, the role of friends and family, understanding and maintaining oneself, and more. It makes the point that mental disease does not define a person. Although this title would not be useful for reports, it does what it sets out to do, which is to illuminate mental disorders and offer hope and encouragement.-Robin Henry, Griffin Middle School, Frisco, TX

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