Pioneer of youth mental health movement speaks at local State of the Child event

Suicide survivor and mental health advocate Ross Szabo gives heartfelt address to a local audience of hundreds on Feb. 23 (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

The annual State of the Child conference works to provide the community with resources on how to best support our youth (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Renowned author and speaker Ross Szabo gave the keynote address at Wedgwood Christian Services’ annual State of the Child event on Feb. 23.

Szabo openly shares his own personal struggles with mental health disorders to address the crisis of mental illness in youth, and help others feel comfortable addressing challenges in their lives.

At age 16, Szabo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In his senior year of high school, Szabo was hospitalized for attempting to take his own life.

Szabo says sharing his story has helped him achieve balanced mental health, and has spent over half his life educating others via his own personal journey.

“I believe we can teach mental health the same way we teach physical health,” Szabo says on his website. “We can use lessons to teach people about brain development, vocabulary, coping skills, healthy relationships, how to help others, and most importantly, how to take care of their minds.”

Szabo has lead the charge in this vital implementation of mental health education.

Filling in the gaps

Considered a pioneer in the youth mental health movement, Szabo founded Human Power Project, a mental health curriculum company, to address information gaps regarding mental health.

In 2021, Szabo launched the Mental Health Education Institute of Geffen Academy at UCLA to educate schools on how to implement mental health education programs for their students.

The Institute also provides guidance for educators on how to use their personal stories to normalize conversations about mental health within the school community.