'Celebrity Rehab' host Drew Pinsky to speak on campus

The host of radio program Loveline and star of VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab” series will speak about health issues affecting college students Nov. 23 at Wharton Center, MSU’s Residence Halls Association announced Wednesday.

Dr. Drew Pinsky will speak at RHA’s second Breaking Point event, which is aimed at facilitating discussion regarding mental and physical health issues in college students.

RHA is an on-campus student government group that represents all students living in residence halls.

“I’m just really excited that we can bring in a name that’s really big, but in a different area rather than a concert,” said Shawn Silver, RHA’s director of health and safety. “He’s just really well known for this type of work.”

Pinsky will discuss issues such as relationships and self-medication. He also will take questions from students during his talk, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre.

The event is free for students living in residence halls and tickets will be available soon, said Melissa Hackett, RHA’s director of public relations and advertising.

Tickets for students who live off campus will be $5 and will be available at the Wharton Center Box Office. There are about 600 tickets available for the event.

Hackett said the group wanted to bring Pinsky to MSU to speak in light of statistics RHA has been compiling regarding college students’ stress and anxiety.

Hackett said one of the issues the group wants to highlight is the fact that most college students do not seek help when burdened by stress related to school, family and social happenings.

“Everybody is affected by these issues … (but) not a lot of people actually reach out and get help,” Hackett said. “We just think it’s really important to highlight that.”

A reception with free refreshments and neck and shoulder massages from Lansing’s HandWorks Massage Therapy will follow the event. Students also can enter a drawing for a chance to appear as a guest on Loveline.

Attendees also will have the opportunity to meet Pinsky at the reception.

Zoology junior Stephanie Simowski said Pinsky’s celebrity status is enough to attract students. She said she would make an effort to attend the event.

“I think people will go just because he’s on VH1 (so) people will go regardless of what he’s talking about,” Simowski said. “It’d be interesting to see what he has to say.”