[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 30 (Thursday, March 4, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MR. ROSS SZABO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 2010

  Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize Mr. Ross Szabo, director of youth outreach for the National 
Mental Health Awareness Campaign. After 8 years with National Mental 
Health Awareness Campaign--as one of the leading young advocates for 
mental health education in the Nation--Ross will be leaving soon for 
Botswana to begin work with the Peace Corps.
  The National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, launched following the 
1999 White House Conference on Mental Health, is a nationwide public 
education initiative which seeks to eliminate the stigma associated 
with mental illness. Ross joined the Campaign 8 years ago as a speaker 
for the youth campaign. Using his own story of bipolar illness, Ross' 
success as a motivational speaker has highlighted the importance of 
talking about mental illness, the effectiveness of treatment, and one's 
ability to live successfully managing the illness.
  After taking over as director of youth outreach, Ross expanded the 
speakers' bureau, ``The Heard,'' into the only peer-to-peer youth 
mental health speaker's bureau in the country. His leadership has 
encouraged more young people to share their stories through the 
Campaign, and has reached millions of students and adults in schools 
and military settings in 45 states. Although Ross has already trained 
the next generation of speakers so that this crucial outreach program 
is continued, his efforts will be sorely missed in the mental health 
community.
  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ross Szabo for his 
leadership, dedication, and advocacy. I thank him for his service to 
our great Nation as he embarks on this next challenge.

                          ____________________