Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health: A Guide for Young Adults

by Ross Szabo and Melanie Hall

Book 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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566253055
• ISBN13: 9781566253055
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Volt Press
• Length: 263 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Loved it.

This is probably the most inspirational book i have ever read. I had had some problems dealing with troublesome events and in general i was about ready to quit. Last summer, i had the opportunity to hear Ross speak, and afterward i bought his book and was immediately sucked into it. It gave me a lot of perspective on just mental health, others' problems, and, in general and how to deal with all of that, and it greatly brought me out of my time of hopelessness. This book changed my life.

Great Book

I purchased this book for a psychology class book report. It provides a great amount of advice for mental health not only for young adults, but for anyone. It really gives a good perspective on how to deal with mental problems that many people face.

This Ought to be on Every High School or College Counselor's Bookshelf

Behind Happy Faces is a very personal look at what happened to Ross Szabo when he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder his senior year in high school. The authors weave other stories into the message that, despite the stigma society attaches to mental health issues, help is out there and that with treatment, there is reason for great hope. The authors don't sugarcoat their message though. While they point out statistics may show that "a large majority of people who seek help can see improvement in their symptoms," they must first be willing to ask for help. Szabo and Hall have written this book as a guide for young adults. Yet, their work is valuable for those who love and work with young people. They touch on what I believe to be the most difficult issue and offer suggestions about how to get those young people to see the need for help. Common mental disorders like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder are discussed. And Szabo describes how in his case, he fell into substance abuse to self-medicate the pain of his illness as so many other people do. Whether it's planning, maintenance, understanding the illness or adjusting one's lifestyle, the authors stress "you are not your disorder." They write: "The reason this distinction is important is because it casts a more positive outlook on your treatment. You'll start to think of your disorder as something you can manage, not something you're stuck with, or something that can't be help." While this is a straightforward and realistic look at mental illness in young people, Szabo's story provides much encouragement. From the low point of wanting to take his own life, he has come to terms with his illness and has an understanding of what it takes to manage the bipolar disorder. The authors promise no easy answers but they do offer advice from the mental health community and Szabo's personal experience. Today, Szabo is Director of Youth Outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign and a popular campus speaker for CAMPUSPEAK, Inc. where he has reached thousands of young people. You might also catch him penning a post for the Huffington Post. He is a man with a mission after all. Behind Happy Faces is a book that ought to be on the bookshelf of every high school and college counselor, adviser, teacher and administrator.