We want to empower you.
At MHED we gather to build community,
to educate, and to eradicate stigma in mental health.
We want to empower you.
At MHED we gather to build community,
to educate, and to eradicate stigma in mental health.
Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of your Mental Health
MHED is proud to welcome acclaimed mental health speaker, advocate, and author Ross Szabo to this year's event. Ross is widely recognized for his contributions to the youth mental health movement and author of influential books: Behind Happy Faces and A Kids Book About Anxiety that was part of a series of books that was named as one of Oprah's Favourite Things in 2020.
He has spoken to over 2 million people about the importance of our mental health and now he is coming to speak to us!
In addition to sharing his own inspiring personal story, Ross will discuss how brain development impacts our lives and provide insight on coping mechanisms as the building blocks of mental health.
With his honest, humorous, and relatable approach to mental health, Ross' words have captivated audiences all over the world and we can't wait to welcome him to our MHED stage.
October 11, 2023
Eglinton Grand Theatre, Toronto
400 Eglinton Avenue West
This event is open to anyone - including students who are in grade six or above. Tickets are $24.00 for adults and $10 for students. Doors open at 7:00pm, with presentations taking place from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.
What’s behind your happy face? Really? For many of us, it is different to what we portray to the world and at MHED we want to work to change that, and to empower everyone to take charge of their mental health.
Download
Here is a link to our Behind Happy Faces poster - download the pdf and print it out. Share your pic with the poster. Include the hashtag #MHED2023
About Ross Szabo
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 16, Szabo’s dedication to mental health advocacy was born from his own deeply personal experiences. He is an award-winning mental health speaker, advocate, and author. He founded and serves as both the Wellness Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA and CEO of Human Power Project. A social innovator who has pioneered the youth mental health movement, he created the first national youth mental health speaker’s bureau, a program that has inspired millions to address their mental health. Szabo has spoken to more than 2 million people about the importance of mental health and has provided a positive example to empower them to seek help. He has made appearances all over the world at events such as SXSW and the Global Summit on Mental Health Culture Change Summit and has been featured in CNN, Washington Post, NPR and Dr. Phil among others.
Mental health issues affect us all. It is almost impossible these days to find a family, a classroom, a hockey team and more who are not affected. We know that one in five kids experience some level of struggle with their mental health, and that Covid has only exacerbated the problem.
Parents, please know you are not alone. Teachers, we know you are seeing anxiety and depression in your classrooms. And to the front line workers with our children — you are the camp counsellors, hockey coaches, dance teachers and more who spend time with our kids and play such an incredible role in their development.
Let’s all gather together at MHED events and empower each other.
MHED brings experts and people with lived experience together. Together we learn from each other and together we are stronger.
Our annual event occurs in Toronto in October, with online seminars throughout the year. Watch this space for what is coming next.
