May 5, 2011 — Russ Federman, director of Counseling and Psychological Services in the University of Virginia's Department of Student Health, is the inaugural recipient of the Stephen D. Weiss Ph.D. Mental Health Fund for Higher Education Writing Prize .

The award, from the American College Health Association, recognizes Federman's article, "Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in the University Student Population," as "a pivotal publication in college mental health."

Federman will receive the Weiss Writing Prize, along with $1,500, on June 2 during the association's annual meeting in Phoenix.

His winning article was published in the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy.

University counseling centers often refer students with bipolar disorder to off-campus services, but Federman argues for a treatment approach that keeps students on campus and combines a bipolar student support group and suggestions for healthy lifestyle changes with short-term individual psychotherapy and psychiatric medication.

Federman and U.Va. Student Health psychiatrist Dr. Andy Thomson are authors of the 2010 book, "Facing Bipolar: The Young Adult's Guide to Dealing with Bipolar Disorder."

The American College Health Association established the Weiss Fund in December to support efforts to promote and improve the quality of mental health care for college students. The association seeks to reward work that demonstrates successful student retention programs that could be implemented on other campuses for those with mental health issues.