How meaningful that this episode was recorded during the 18th anniversary of by brother Carson’s death by suicide. His expressed legacy was to help youth thrive and this episode is dedicated to empowering youth to help lead innovative approaches in suicide prevention.
The Liv Project, is a non-profit organization founded by the mother and sister of Olivia Ann Kunik, a 19 year old and shining light who died by suicide on January 19th, 2018. In honor of her life, the Liv Project strives to turn the tide of youth suicide through creative approaches such as:
Their film “My Sister Liv”
Their “Game that Goes There”
And their fashion line.
Well-meaning caring adults who want to support youth, don’t always get this right. Sometimes they think their main role is about teaching and protecting, when what is often more impactful is EMPOWERMENT. In other words, let the youth lead. They know their challenges and strengths best. When youth take charge, the outcome is far more likely to gain momentum with their peers.
The founders of the Liv Project understand this, and have enrolled countless youth advisors and ambassadors to lead the cause. By employing the creativity and passion of young people and collaborating with mental health professionals, they are able to reach their audiences effectively and with confidence.
About the Liv Project
The Liv Project is a creative collective — a group of artists, filmmakers, and creative humans from around the world, whose lives have been touched by youth suicide. They are caring adults collaborating with youth and mental health professionals to create thoughtful experiences and tools aimed at sparking the kind of fearless communication that can save lives. They constantly imagine and build new tools and resources designed to eliminate the stigma of mental health issues and reverse the soaring rate of youth suicide.
Website: https://thelivproject.org/
Show Notes
Youth Suicide and Suicide Prevention
Facts about teen suicide: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/teen-suicide
Science Update: Youth suicides increased in first year of the pandemic, NIH-funded study suggests: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/news/042722-COVID-adolescent-suicide
Teen Suicide - What Parents Need to Know: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teen-suicide/art-20044308
A Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention: https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/blueprint-for-youth-suicide-prevention/
ProGRAMS AND TOOLS from the Liv Project
The Film: “My Sister Liv”: “features sisters Tess and Liv, who from a young age are inseparable. Liv is a young girl, growing up with relentless pressures of social media, teen depression and, often, suicidal thoughts. MY SISTER LIV takes us into a rare and riveting journey of raw emotions and fears of a young life on the edge — and ultimately a big sister’s desperate struggle to save her. Through fearless storytelling, MY SISTER LIV reveals the realities of stigma, the struggles of mental health, and the aftermath for the survivors left behind in a suicide. As a family learns to cope with their new normal, they find hope in filling a gap around fearlessly talking about mental health and ultimately to save young lives.”
The Game that Goes There: “To those unmentionable dark places in our brain we’d rather not visit. Don’t worry, though. You won’t be going there alone. The more people who go there, the less scary it becomes. So, prepare to be a little uncomfortable, a lot open-minded, have a few laughs, and above all else be real AF.”
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