How One Man Turned His Mental Health Struggles Into a Lifelong Mission to Empower Others
With tears rolling down his face, award-winning speaker Ross Szabo was staring back at himself the mirror, and realized something had to change.
“That was the first night I accepted having bipolar disorder.”
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In hindsight, this newfound awareness would become a defining moment in his life, and is ultimately what drove him to discover his purpose: making mental health an approachable topic.
Growing up with mental illness
Ross experienced more loss in the span of two years then some people do in a lifetime.
He was 13 when he started drinking alcohol. At 16, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
In his senior year of high-school, he began having suicidal ideations.
“I thought I’d wake up one day and I’d want to live again,” he said.
“I thought that one day I’d wake up and everything would magically get better, but that didn’t come.”
Shortly after, he was hospitalized after attempting to take his own life. On the outside, Ross was successful student -- president of his class, a varsity basketball player, but he felt as is he was leading a double life. He was living an internal experience no one knew about.
After graduation, he moved to go to college in Washington D.C., hoping to leave the past behind. Two months in, he had a relapse and moved back home.
Making the brave choice to choose self-love
By the time he returned to American University, four years later, his binge drinking was out of control. He woke up one night, after having been passed out for 22 hours following a night of incredibly heavy drinking, and that’s when he knew he had to make a decision.
“When you hate yourself, it doesn’t matter what your diagnosis or treatment are,” he said. “I didn’t care enough about myself to even want to try to work on anything.”
Szabo had to make choice between life or death. It was especially difficult for him to accept his reality and take the leap towards recovery, because he hated himself.
“There are few things more dangerous than a person who hates themselves,” he said.
Soon after, he began going to therapy and got treatment for his mental illness.
“I was honest for the first time, and I had to learn how to like myself.”
During his recovery journey, he understood that while he never chose to have bipolar disorder, he did have control over how he chose to cope with it.
Finding purpose in painful experiences
Eventually, Ross learned how to manage his disorder. He went on to graduate from American University and became a mental health advocate. But his own mental health is something he has to keep working on every day.
“Every day, I have to build my mental health, I have to check in with myself and make sure that I’m ok, that I can manage these situations,” he said.
Today, his mission in life has become to educate people about mental health, make it approachable, and to break the stigma that’s attached to it.
Szabo was the Director of Outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign for eight years. He’s also the co-author of Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge Of Your Mental Health.
He’s created the Behind Happy Faces Curriculum, a mental health educational program that’s currently being used in schools across the U.S. to teach people of all ages and walks of life the skills they need to manage their mental health.
Through honesty, acceptance and a lot of hard work, he’s changing the way we talk about mental health, one story at a time.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.