Courageous Conversations Around Suicide

Charting Pediatrics

Many of us avoid talking about suicide, not only because it’s a difficult conversation, but also because we don’t know how to. And avoiding that conversation can be a barrier to helping those most at risk.

One family from Colorado is at the forefront of changing the stigma and creating opportunities for fearless conversations. They courageously shared their story in a powerful documentary released earlier this year called “My Sister Liv.” In this special episode, we honor Liv Kunik’s life and learn about how her story is spurring hundreds of courageous discussions around suicide.

The guests for this episode are family members at the heart and soul of the documentary, as well as mental health advocates. Honey Beuf is Liv’s mom, and she is the co-founder and Executive Director of The Liv Project. Tess Kunik is Liv’s sister and the co-founder of The Liv Project. Her voice also narrates the film, taking us through Liv’s story. Jessica Hawks, PhD, is the Clinical Director of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado and a child and adolescent psychologist. She is also an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• An overview of how the “My Sister Liv” documentary came together and the impact it’s having in the community
• Ways for friends, family and providers to have “fearless conversations”
• A discussion of how providers can best care for suicidal patients and their families, such as asking direct questions
• A look at advocacy efforts underway and tools created to support courageous conversations
• A youth suicide prevention resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention providers can use in their daily practice

Visit The Liv Project website to learn more about their work, how you can access the film and details about the game mentioned in the episode, The Game that Goes There.

For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.