Certain to become one of the most comprehensive accounts of the mental health issues affecting today's youth, popular speaker Ross Szabo's guide helps young people to address their problems, and aids adults in understanding them as well.
Behind Happy Faces
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"(Szabo) has a true gift for getting through...if it's understanding and compassion you seek, look no further." -- Lizzie Simon, Author, DETOUR: My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D
"...empowering (young people) to overcome the stigma of mental illness -- and get the help they need." -- DONNA SATOW, Co-Founder, The Jed Foundation
"An inspirational read for all young adults...as well as parents, teachers, family and friends." -- TIPPER GORE, Photographer, Author and Mental Health Advocate
"Mental illness among young people is epidemic. Behind Happy Faces will mitigate (their) shame and isolation...frank, honest, and informative." -- ANDREW SOLOMON, Author of The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
"Szabo's enthralling narrative draws its strength from the power of his personal story...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
"...empowering (young people) to overcome the stigma of mental illness -- and get the help they need." -- DONNA SATOW, Co-Founder, The Jed Foundation
"An inspirational read for all young adults...as well as parents, teachers, family and friends." -- TIPPER GORE, Photographer, Author and Mental Health Advocate
"Mental illness among young people is epidemic. Behind Happy Faces will mitigate (their) shame and isolation...frank, honest, and informative." -- ANDREW SOLOMON, Author of The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
"Szabo's enthralling narrative draws its strength from the power of his personal story...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
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Ought to be on Every High School or College Counselor's Bookshelf,
By
This review is from: Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health - A Guide for Young Adults (Paperback)
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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book,
This review is from: Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health - A Guide for Young Adults (Paperback)
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read for High School Students,
This review is from: Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health - A Guide for Young Adults (Paperback)
I checked this book out for a college presentation on mental health. I didn't expect to even find it interesting, but the cover drew me to it. I did a quick read of the first chapter and couldn't put it down. I instantly connected with the author Ross Sazbo. This man dealt with mental issues for years before finally finding the help he needed. Ross is right, it's 2010 and while the social stigma of mental illness may not entirely be gone, the need to hide it and pretend it isn't there certainly is. The only way that we can have healthy kids is to address issues as they arise and get our kids the help they need. I think it should be in every library and a required reading for every health class in America.
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