Ross Szabo, diagnosed with bi-polar disorder at 16, hospitalized twice for depression with suicidal ideation, knows up close and personally how the stigma associated with mental illness prevents young adults from getting the help they need when they are depressed and thinking of suicide. In this workshop for mental health professionals, Szabo will explore the common mental health issues facing young adults, the coping mechanisms they develop in response to problems, and strategies to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. Szabo serves as the Director of Youth Outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign and is the author of “Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of your Mental Health, a Guide for Young Adults.” He has been featured in Parade and Seventeen magazines and has made appearances on national TV (MTV, CBS, MSNBC and CNN) and NPR. For more information about Ross Szabo and his organization go to http://www.nostigma.org.