Mental health, alcohol problems addressed

Szabo said many students with mental health issues do not seek help.

By Jake Carah

Published Oct. 5, 2007

When he was in high school, Ross Szabo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He attempted suicide during his senior year in high school and relapsed into his illness during his freshman year in college.

"I was the president of my class," Szabo said. "I got good grades, laughed and smiled, yet I felt worthless inside."

But with the help of friends and family members, Szabo said he sought professional help and medical treatment for his condition.

Now a youth director of the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, which aims to raise awareness and deconstruct the stigma surrounding mental illness on college campuses, Szabo visited a crowded Jesse Hall on Tuesday to share his experiences and talk about issues of mental health.

Szabo is co-author of "Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health - A Guide for Young Adults."

The Wellness Resource Center, Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol and the Delta Upsilon fraternity sponsored Szabo's presentation. The organizations planned the event, called "Mixed Drinks, Mixed Emotions: Alcohol Abuse and Mental Health," in concurrence with the first week of October, which is known as GAMMA Week, GAMMA Steering Committee member Elizabeth Hansen said. The week is also the beginning of the nationally observed Alcohol Responsibility Month.

GAMMA is an organization composed of members of fraternities and sororities interested in responsible alcohol use, according to the Wellness Resource Center Web site.

"It's important for people to stay informed, because they can make bad decisions when they drink too much," Hansen said.

Szabo said the talk was his first visit to MU, where he said he wanted to start a dialogue with the community about the issues regarding drinking and drug abuse and how they relate to mental and social well being.

At the beginning of his presentation, Szabo said student suicide is the second leading cause of death on college campuses, and one out of four college students suffers from some type of diagnosable mental health issue each year.

But Szabo said his focus was the fact that seven out of 10 college students who abuse drugs and alcohol have a co-occurring mental health issue.

Szabo began his presentation with impressions of entertainers Chris Farley and Dave Chappelle, then turned his attention to the problems that students with mental health problems face. He said that sometimes, students with mental health issues do not seek help because they are ashamed of their illness.

He said when most people think of mental illness, they think of mental break-down or schizophrenia, but most individuals deal with a death in the family, break-ups or depression.

"Seventy percent of college students who are going through something do not seek help," Szabo said.

He said students who don't seek help are the real reason he tours college campuses to talk about mental illnesses.

Szabo said the most effective organization on college campuses for links to treatment or for support is Active Minds On Campus, a peer-to-peer organization whose primary goal is outreach in the community directed toward supporting those with mental health issues. He said MU is working hard to expand its services.

Szabo said he advises distressed students to find support.

"You have to examine where those feelings are coming from and the reasons why you feel that way," he said.