Mental HealthMental Health Resources & Programs

Mental health is one of Phi Gamma Delta’s main educational priorities, and we believe it is important to provide programs and resources to our brothers and volunteers.

Behind Happy Faces

Behind Happy Faces (BHF) is a mental health curriculum designed to give young men the tools needed to address their mental health. There are nine lessons that define mental health, break down the stigmas surrounding it, open doors for discussion, teach about effective coping, and help participants support friends who are experiencing mental health challenges. BHF is available to our chapters for FREE, and it can be facilitated by an undergraduate brother, graduate advisor or volunteer.

How to Host BHF

Review each lesson’s facilitator guide and PowerPoint presentation (linked under each lesson below) and example how to use the lesson strategically to evaluate which lessons will benefit your chapter.

1: Understanding Mental Health

Facilitation Materials
How to Use This Session Strategically
  • Example: Facilitate as a “Welcome Back” program to begin the year with conversations about mental health
  • When: August

2: Your Mental Health

Facilitation Materials
How to Use This Session Strategically
  • Example: Facilitate as a “Welcome Back” program to begin the year with conversations about mental health
  • When: August

3: Changing Ineffective Coping

Facilitation Materials
How to Use This Session Strategically
  • Example: Host program prior to breaks
  • When: November/March

4: Talk to a Brother

Facilitation Materials
How to Use This Session Strategically
  • Example: The program relates to people’s relationships with each other
  • When: February

5: Before the Breakdown

Facilitation Materials
How to Use This Session Strategically
  • Example: Host program to help with stress before finals
  • When: December/April

6: Acute vs. Chronic Stress

Facilitation Materials
How to Use This Session Strategically
  • Example: Facilitate this program to help with stress before mid-terms
  • When: September/February

7: Good Stress & Stopping Procrastination

Facilitation Materials
How to Use This Session Strategically
  • Example: Facilitate this program to help with finalizing the semester academically
  • When: October

8: Sympathy, Empathy & Compassion

Facilitation Materials
How to Use This Session Strategically
  • Example: Host program to start a dialogue about going “home” for those who may not have a strong home environment or to raise awareness for those who do not have a strong home environment
  • When: November

9: Neuroscience of Happiness

Facilitation Materials
How to Use This Session Strategically
  • Facilitate any time

Advisor’s Mental Health Workshop

The Advisor’s Mental Health Workshop series provides graduate advisors and volunteers with training on mental health basics and is facilitated by Ross Szabo, creator of Behind Happy Faces.

Mental Wellness Guide

Phi Gamma Delta partnered with Archie Messersmith-Bunting to develop a Mental Wellness Guide. Chapter leaders and volunteers should review the guide as a team to discuss their approach to support brothers.

Wellness Resource Contact List

Chapter leaders should also utilize the Wellness Resource Contact List to identify available local resources and share the list with the chapter.

External Mental Health Resources

General Resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Resources from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides information and data to showcase why mental health is important.

  1. Mental Health By the Numbers – statistics and facts related to the impact mental health has on society.
  2. Review the Warning Signs & Symptoms for mental health so you can support and enable others to get the help they need. This doesn’t mean serving as a mental health expert.
  3. Identity & Cultural Dimensions – learn how mental health impacts identities and cultures differently.

Organizations Helping with Specific Types of Mental Health Disorders