ASK. LISTEN. DO. START A FEARLESS CONVERSATION
We are losing the battle against youth suicide and the current conversations around mental health are not working. Colorado has seen the highest increase in teen suicides in the U.S. jumping 58% in three years. Today's conversation will focus on LIV, a documentary short film about a Colorado teen who tragically died by suicide in 2019. The filmmakers, subjects, and licensed therapist and advisor on the film will discuss the making of the film, it's impact, and the importance of engaging in fearless conversation around mental health and suicide.
Join LIV director Alan Hicks and producer Paula DuPré Pesmen for a live panel discussion of their film and the stigma and silence around suicide. They’ll be joined by Liv's mother, Honey Beuf, her sister Tess Kunik and Susan Caso, therapist and the film’s advisor. Christine Osmundson from CB State of Mind will be moderating.
We highly recommend that you watch the film LIV before attending this live panel discussion.
***Please note that this film and event will cover tough topics around suicide and could be triggering for some individuals.***
If you need immediate help, call 911
If you are thinking about suicide, need support, or are worried about a friend or loved one:
Call the 24-hour Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741
If you live in Colorado:
You can call the Colorado Crisis and Support line at 1-844-493-8255 or text the word ‘talk’ to 741741.
Gunnison Valley's local crisis number is 970-252-6220. All numbers will work and will route you to immediate help. If you or your loved one is in a crisis or imminent danger please call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room.
How to Watch Panel
You will be able to access this live event at 6 pm MST on Tuesday, September 29.
Be sure you are logged into your account in the Virtual Festival Hub.
In order to ask questions in the panel, you will need to watch from a computer to use the chat feature.*
PLEASE NOTE: Live Virtual Events must be viewed from your computer/smartphone/tablet and are not available on your Apple TV or Roku Apps.
Panelists Include
Alan Hicks is a Grammy Award-Winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles. After working as a musician in and around New York, Hicks transitioned to filmmaking, directing his first feature documentary KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON and winning the Audience Award and Best New Director honors at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. The film also won awards from the IDFA, AFI, Cinema Eye, Seattle Film Festival, Palm Springs, Hamptons Summer Docs, Aspen Film Festival and more. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON was also shortlisted for the Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature in 2015. Hicks recently directed the documentary feature film QUINCY following music legend and icon Quincy Jones over four years. QUINCY premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, before its worldwide premiere on Netflix reaching audiences in 150 countries. QUINCY received the Critic's Choice Honor for Best Music Documentary, the African American Film Critics Award for Best Documentary and Top Ten Films of 2018. QUINCY was included in the Doc NYC Short List, the Hollywood Reporter's Top Ten Films of 2018, was honored as a New York Times Critics Pick and won the Grammy for Best Music Film.
Paula DuPré Pesmen launched her film career on the producing teams of such narrative features as: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, RENT, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, HOME ALONE 2 and STEPMOM. Since 2004, she has produced the renowned documentary features: THE COVE (Academy Award 2010); CHASING ICE (Cinematography Award Sundance; Emmy Award, Audience Award SXSW 2012), KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON (Audience Award Tribeca Film Festival, IDFA, Palm Springs Film Festival 2014); and Grammy Award winning and Netflix Original QUINCY (Toronto International Film Festival 2018) following music legend Quincy Jones. Paula was named Producer of the Year, 2010, by the Producers Guild of America. For her philanthropic work starting and running the non-profit There With Care, which provides daily support to families and children facing critical illness, she was named a Local Hero by Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine. Her recent documentary short film, LIV was made with director Alan Hicks to turn the tide of youth suicide.
Tess is Liv’s sister. She is a Colorado native and Philadelphia based Theatre Artist, Designer, and Teaching Artist. She attended the University of the Arts where she graduated in 2013 with a BFA in Theatre Arts. Tess is honored to be a collaborator with Ninth Planet, a performance collective that “creates opportunities for people of color, women, queer and trans people in Philadelphia to participate in the making, performing, and producing of community-powered performance .” Her most recent collaboration with Ninth Planet combined her love for theatre and early childhood development in a production called Homeworld, a performance installation for babies 3-18 months and their caregivers. She collaborated on Homeworld as a co-creator, performer, and designer of the baby-safe installation and props. From 2015-2020 she served as teaching artist, designer, and stage manager, for a non-profit Theatre Education Organization and later brought theatre programming to schools in the Greater Philadelphia Area as their Education and Outreach Manager. Tess is passionate about collaboration and storytelling and its power to educate, inspire, and start conversations. She is dedicated to cultivating confidence in those who wish to tell their own stories. Here's to Sweet Liv, Tess' most beloved collaborator and inspiration.
Honey is the mother of Liv, Tess and Max, and currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Chuck. She received a bachelors degree in sociology from The University of Pennsylvania, later moving to Boulder, CO. where she became CFO and co-owner of a staffing firm for over 25 years before retiring in July 2018. When Liv died she decided that she wanted to create something that would help to prevent other families from feeling the brutally painful grief of suicide loss. She wanted to be different and creative, just like Liv was in life, to reach young people, nationally and globally. Her mission is to continue to encourage open, fearless communication and to break down the barriers of stigma and shame around mental health and suicide.
Susan Caso is a Licensed Professional Counselor working with teens and college students over the last seventeen years. She counsels individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and suicidal ideation as well as helping families in their supportive role. She earned two undergraduate degree’s in Psychology and Human Development from the University of Kansas, along with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado. She has worked in clinical settings ranging from agency work, residential treatment, public schools, and private practice. She was a board member for Second Wind Fund of Boulder County for five years and is dedicated to finding ways to create awareness on the topic of mental health and educating others of how to create a safe environment for those struggling to feel supported.
Christine Osmundson, Panel Moderator
Christine is a Licensed Professional Counselor and one of the founders and current Board President of CB State of Mind. Christine has a Master’s degree in Psychology from NYU and is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 22 years experience in private practice psychotherapy and psychiatric inpatient care for children and adults. She specializes in crisis intervention through her work as a Volunteer with the American Red Cross 9/11 Disaster Relief in NYC, private practice, community mental health organizations, Department of Youth Corrections, and residential/day treatment school programs. She is dedicated to furthering CBSOM’s mission which is to reduce the stigma of Mental Health while providing free therapy scholarships to people that are uninsured and underinsured in Gunnison County. Since its inception, which is less than a year ago, CBSOM has provided over 300 free counseling scholarships to community members in need of immediate mental health services.
ASK. LISTEN. DO. START A FEARLESS CONVERSATION
We are losing the battle against youth suicide and the current conversations around mental health are not working. Colorado has seen the highest increase in teen suicides in the U.S. jumping 58% in three years. Today's conversation will focus on LIV, a documentary short film about a Colorado teen who tragically died by suicide in 2019. The filmmakers, subjects, and licensed therapist and advisor on the film will discuss the making of the film, it's impact, and the importance of engaging in fearless conversation around mental health and suicide.
Join LIV director Alan Hicks and producer Paula DuPré Pesmen for a live panel discussion of their film and the stigma and silence around suicide. They’ll be joined by Liv's mother, Honey Beuf, her sister Tess Kunik and Susan Caso, therapist and the film’s advisor. Christine Osmundson from CB State of Mind will be moderating.
We highly recommend that you watch the film LIV before attending this live panel discussion.
***Please note that this film and event will cover tough topics around suicide and could be triggering for some individuals.***
If you need immediate help, call 911
If you are thinking about suicide, need support, or are worried about a friend or loved one:
Call the 24-hour Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741
If you live in Colorado:
You can call the Colorado Crisis and Support line at 1-844-493-8255 or text the word ‘talk’ to 741741.
Gunnison Valley's local crisis number is 970-252-6220. All numbers will work and will route you to immediate help. If you or your loved one is in a crisis or imminent danger please call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room.
How to Watch Panel
You will be able to access this live event at 6 pm MST on Tuesday, September 29.
Be sure you are logged into your account in the Virtual Festival Hub.
In order to ask questions in the panel, you will need to watch from a computer to use the chat feature.*
PLEASE NOTE: Live Virtual Events must be viewed from your computer/smartphone/tablet and are not available on your Apple TV or Roku Apps.
Panelists Include
Alan Hicks is a Grammy Award-Winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles. After working as a musician in and around New York, Hicks transitioned to filmmaking, directing his first feature documentary KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON and winning the Audience Award and Best New Director honors at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. The film also won awards from the IDFA, AFI, Cinema Eye, Seattle Film Festival, Palm Springs, Hamptons Summer Docs, Aspen Film Festival and more. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON was also shortlisted for the Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature in 2015. Hicks recently directed the documentary feature film QUINCY following music legend and icon Quincy Jones over four years. QUINCY premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, before its worldwide premiere on Netflix reaching audiences in 150 countries. QUINCY received the Critic's Choice Honor for Best Music Documentary, the African American Film Critics Award for Best Documentary and Top Ten Films of 2018. QUINCY was included in the Doc NYC Short List, the Hollywood Reporter's Top Ten Films of 2018, was honored as a New York Times Critics Pick and won the Grammy for Best Music Film.
Paula DuPré Pesmen launched her film career on the producing teams of such narrative features as: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, RENT, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, HOME ALONE 2 and STEPMOM. Since 2004, she has produced the renowned documentary features: THE COVE (Academy Award 2010); CHASING ICE (Cinematography Award Sundance; Emmy Award, Audience Award SXSW 2012), KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON (Audience Award Tribeca Film Festival, IDFA, Palm Springs Film Festival 2014); and Grammy Award winning and Netflix Original QUINCY (Toronto International Film Festival 2018) following music legend Quincy Jones. Paula was named Producer of the Year, 2010, by the Producers Guild of America. For her philanthropic work starting and running the non-profit There With Care, which provides daily support to families and children facing critical illness, she was named a Local Hero by Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine. Her recent documentary short film, LIV was made with director Alan Hicks to turn the tide of youth suicide.
Tess is Liv’s sister. She is a Colorado native and Philadelphia based Theatre Artist, Designer, and Teaching Artist. She attended the University of the Arts where she graduated in 2013 with a BFA in Theatre Arts. Tess is honored to be a collaborator with Ninth Planet, a performance collective that “creates opportunities for people of color, women, queer and trans people in Philadelphia to participate in the making, performing, and producing of community-powered performance .” Her most recent collaboration with Ninth Planet combined her love for theatre and early childhood development in a production called Homeworld, a performance installation for babies 3-18 months and their caregivers. She collaborated on Homeworld as a co-creator, performer, and designer of the baby-safe installation and props. From 2015-2020 she served as teaching artist, designer, and stage manager, for a non-profit Theatre Education Organization and later brought theatre programming to schools in the Greater Philadelphia Area as their Education and Outreach Manager. Tess is passionate about collaboration and storytelling and its power to educate, inspire, and start conversations. She is dedicated to cultivating confidence in those who wish to tell their own stories. Here's to Sweet Liv, Tess' most beloved collaborator and inspiration.
Honey is the mother of Liv, Tess and Max, and currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Chuck. She received a bachelors degree in sociology from The University of Pennsylvania, later moving to Boulder, CO. where she became CFO and co-owner of a staffing firm for over 25 years before retiring in July 2018. When Liv died she decided that she wanted to create something that would help to prevent other families from feeling the brutally painful grief of suicide loss. She wanted to be different and creative, just like Liv was in life, to reach young people, nationally and globally. Her mission is to continue to encourage open, fearless communication and to break down the barriers of stigma and shame around mental health and suicide.
Susan Caso is a Licensed Professional Counselor working with teens and college students over the last seventeen years. She counsels individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and suicidal ideation as well as helping families in their supportive role. She earned two undergraduate degree’s in Psychology and Human Development from the University of Kansas, along with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado. She has worked in clinical settings ranging from agency work, residential treatment, public schools, and private practice. She was a board member for Second Wind Fund of Boulder County for five years and is dedicated to finding ways to create awareness on the topic of mental health and educating others of how to create a safe environment for those struggling to feel supported.
Christine Osmundson, Panel Moderator
Christine is a Licensed Professional Counselor and one of the founders and current Board President of CB State of Mind. Christine has a Master’s degree in Psychology from NYU and is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 22 years experience in private practice psychotherapy and psychiatric inpatient care for children and adults. She specializes in crisis intervention through her work as a Volunteer with the American Red Cross 9/11 Disaster Relief in NYC, private practice, community mental health organizations, Department of Youth Corrections, and residential/day treatment school programs. She is dedicated to furthering CBSOM’s mission which is to reduce the stigma of Mental Health while providing free therapy scholarships to people that are uninsured and underinsured in Gunnison County. Since its inception, which is less than a year ago, CBSOM has provided over 300 free counseling scholarships to community members in need of immediate mental health services.
ASK. LISTEN. DO. START A FEARLESS CONVERSATION
We are losing the battle against youth suicide and the current conversations around mental health are not working. Colorado has seen the highest increase in teen suicides in the U.S. jumping 58% in three years. Today's conversation will focus on LIV, a documentary short film about a Colorado teen who tragically died by suicide in 2019. The filmmakers, subjects, and licensed therapist and advisor on the film will discuss the making of the film, it's impact, and the importance of engaging in fearless conversation around mental health and suicide.
Join LIV director Alan Hicks and producer Paula DuPré Pesmen for a live panel discussion of their film and the stigma and silence around suicide. They’ll be joined by Liv's mother, Honey Beuf, her sister Tess Kunik and Susan Caso, therapist and the film’s advisor. Christine Osmundson from CB State of Mind will be moderating.
We highly recommend that you watch the film LIV before attending this live panel discussion.
***Please note that this film and event will cover tough topics around suicide and could be triggering for some individuals.***
If you need immediate help, call 911
If you are thinking about suicide, need support, or are worried about a friend or loved one:
Call the 24-hour Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741
If you live in Colorado:
You can call the Colorado Crisis and Support line at 1-844-493-8255 or text the word ‘talk’ to 741741.
Gunnison Valley's local crisis number is 970-252-6220. All numbers will work and will route you to immediate help. If you or your loved one is in a crisis or imminent danger please call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room.
How to Watch Panel
You will be able to access this live event at 6 pm MST on Tuesday, September 29.
Be sure you are logged into your account in the Virtual Festival Hub.
In order to ask questions in the panel, you will need to watch from a computer to use the chat feature.*
PLEASE NOTE: Live Virtual Events must be viewed from your computer/smartphone/tablet and are not available on your Apple TV or Roku Apps.
Panelists Include
Alan Hicks is a Grammy Award-Winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles. After working as a musician in and around New York, Hicks transitioned to filmmaking, directing his first feature documentary KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON and winning the Audience Award and Best New Director honors at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. The film also won awards from the IDFA, AFI, Cinema Eye, Seattle Film Festival, Palm Springs, Hamptons Summer Docs, Aspen Film Festival and more. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON was also shortlisted for the Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature in 2015. Hicks recently directed the documentary feature film QUINCY following music legend and icon Quincy Jones over four years. QUINCY premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, before its worldwide premiere on Netflix reaching audiences in 150 countries. QUINCY received the Critic's Choice Honor for Best Music Documentary, the African American Film Critics Award for Best Documentary and Top Ten Films of 2018. QUINCY was included in the Doc NYC Short List, the Hollywood Reporter's Top Ten Films of 2018, was honored as a New York Times Critics Pick and won the Grammy for Best Music Film.
Paula DuPré Pesmen launched her film career on the producing teams of such narrative features as: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, RENT, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, HOME ALONE 2 and STEPMOM. Since 2004, she has produced the renowned documentary features: THE COVE (Academy Award 2010); CHASING ICE (Cinematography Award Sundance; Emmy Award, Audience Award SXSW 2012), KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON (Audience Award Tribeca Film Festival, IDFA, Palm Springs Film Festival 2014); and Grammy Award winning and Netflix Original QUINCY (Toronto International Film Festival 2018) following music legend Quincy Jones. Paula was named Producer of the Year, 2010, by the Producers Guild of America. For her philanthropic work starting and running the non-profit There With Care, which provides daily support to families and children facing critical illness, she was named a Local Hero by Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine. Her recent documentary short film, LIV was made with director Alan Hicks to turn the tide of youth suicide.
Tess is Liv’s sister. She is a Colorado native and Philadelphia based Theatre Artist, Designer, and Teaching Artist. She attended the University of the Arts where she graduated in 2013 with a BFA in Theatre Arts. Tess is honored to be a collaborator with Ninth Planet, a performance collective that “creates opportunities for people of color, women, queer and trans people in Philadelphia to participate in the making, performing, and producing of community-powered performance .” Her most recent collaboration with Ninth Planet combined her love for theatre and early childhood development in a production called Homeworld, a performance installation for babies 3-18 months and their caregivers. She collaborated on Homeworld as a co-creator, performer, and designer of the baby-safe installation and props. From 2015-2020 she served as teaching artist, designer, and stage manager, for a non-profit Theatre Education Organization and later brought theatre programming to schools in the Greater Philadelphia Area as their Education and Outreach Manager. Tess is passionate about collaboration and storytelling and its power to educate, inspire, and start conversations. She is dedicated to cultivating confidence in those who wish to tell their own stories. Here's to Sweet Liv, Tess' most beloved collaborator and inspiration.
Honey is the mother of Liv, Tess and Max, and currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Chuck. She received a bachelors degree in sociology from The University of Pennsylvania, later moving to Boulder, CO. where she became CFO and co-owner of a staffing firm for over 25 years before retiring in July 2018. When Liv died she decided that she wanted to create something that would help to prevent other families from feeling the brutally painful grief of suicide loss. She wanted to be different and creative, just like Liv was in life, to reach young people, nationally and globally. Her mission is to continue to encourage open, fearless communication and to break down the barriers of stigma and shame around mental health and suicide.
Susan Caso is a Licensed Professional Counselor working with teens and college students over the last seventeen years. She counsels individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and suicidal ideation as well as helping families in their supportive role. She earned two undergraduate degree’s in Psychology and Human Development from the University of Kansas, along with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado. She has worked in clinical settings ranging from agency work, residential treatment, public schools, and private practice. She was a board member for Second Wind Fund of Boulder County for five years and is dedicated to finding ways to create awareness on the topic of mental health and educating others of how to create a safe environment for those struggling to feel supported.
Christine Osmundson, Panel Moderator
Christine is a Licensed Professional Counselor and one of the founders and current Board President of CB State of Mind. Christine has a Master’s degree in Psychology from NYU and is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 22 years experience in private practice psychotherapy and psychiatric inpatient care for children and adults. She specializes in crisis intervention through her work as a Volunteer with the American Red Cross 9/11 Disaster Relief in NYC, private practice, community mental health organizations, Department of Youth Corrections, and residential/day treatment school programs. She is dedicated to furthering CBSOM’s mission which is to reduce the stigma of Mental Health while providing free therapy scholarships to people that are uninsured and underinsured in Gunnison County. Since its inception, which is less than a year ago, CBSOM has provided over 300 free counseling scholarships to community members in need of immediate mental health services.
ASK. LISTEN. DO. START A FEARLESS CONVERSATION
We are losing the battle against youth suicide and the current conversations around mental health are not working. Colorado has seen the highest increase in teen suicides in the U.S. jumping 58% in three years. Today's conversation will focus on LIV, a documentary short film about a Colorado teen who tragically died by suicide in 2019. The filmmakers, subjects, and licensed therapist and advisor on the film will discuss the making of the film, it's impact, and the importance of engaging in fearless conversation around mental health and suicide.
Join LIV director Alan Hicks and producer Paula DuPré Pesmen for a live panel discussion of their film and the stigma and silence around suicide. They’ll be joined by Liv's mother, Honey Beuf, her sister Tess Kunik and Susan Caso, therapist and the film’s advisor. Christine Osmundson from CB State of Mind will be moderating.
We highly recommend that you watch the film LIV before attending this live panel discussion.
***Please note that this film and event will cover tough topics around suicide and could be triggering for some individuals.***
If you need immediate help, call 911
If you are thinking about suicide, need support, or are worried about a friend or loved one:
Call the 24-hour Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741
If you live in Colorado:
You can call the Colorado Crisis and Support line at 1-844-493-8255 or text the word ‘talk’ to 741741.
Gunnison Valley's local crisis number is 970-252-6220. All numbers will work and will route you to immediate help. If you or your loved one is in a crisis or imminent danger please call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room.
How to Watch Panel
You will be able to access this live event at 6 pm MST on Tuesday, September 29.
Be sure you are logged into your account in the Virtual Festival Hub.
In order to ask questions in the panel, you will need to watch from a computer to use the chat feature.*
PLEASE NOTE: Live Virtual Events must be viewed from your computer/smartphone/tablet and are not available on your Apple TV or Roku Apps.
Panelists Include
Alan Hicks is a Grammy Award-Winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles. After working as a musician in and around New York, Hicks transitioned to filmmaking, directing his first feature documentary KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON and winning the Audience Award and Best New Director honors at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. The film also won awards from the IDFA, AFI, Cinema Eye, Seattle Film Festival, Palm Springs, Hamptons Summer Docs, Aspen Film Festival and more. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON was also shortlisted for the Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature in 2015. Hicks recently directed the documentary feature film QUINCY following music legend and icon Quincy Jones over four years. QUINCY premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, before its worldwide premiere on Netflix reaching audiences in 150 countries. QUINCY received the Critic's Choice Honor for Best Music Documentary, the African American Film Critics Award for Best Documentary and Top Ten Films of 2018. QUINCY was included in the Doc NYC Short List, the Hollywood Reporter's Top Ten Films of 2018, was honored as a New York Times Critics Pick and won the Grammy for Best Music Film.
Paula DuPré Pesmen launched her film career on the producing teams of such narrative features as: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, RENT, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, HOME ALONE 2 and STEPMOM. Since 2004, she has produced the renowned documentary features: THE COVE (Academy Award 2010); CHASING ICE (Cinematography Award Sundance; Emmy Award, Audience Award SXSW 2012), KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON (Audience Award Tribeca Film Festival, IDFA, Palm Springs Film Festival 2014); and Grammy Award winning and Netflix Original QUINCY (Toronto International Film Festival 2018) following music legend Quincy Jones. Paula was named Producer of the Year, 2010, by the Producers Guild of America. For her philanthropic work starting and running the non-profit There With Care, which provides daily support to families and children facing critical illness, she was named a Local Hero by Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine. Her recent documentary short film, LIV was made with director Alan Hicks to turn the tide of youth suicide.
Tess is Liv’s sister. She is a Colorado native and Philadelphia based Theatre Artist, Designer, and Teaching Artist. She attended the University of the Arts where she graduated in 2013 with a BFA in Theatre Arts. Tess is honored to be a collaborator with Ninth Planet, a performance collective that “creates opportunities for people of color, women, queer and trans people in Philadelphia to participate in the making, performing, and producing of community-powered performance .” Her most recent collaboration with Ninth Planet combined her love for theatre and early childhood development in a production called Homeworld, a performance installation for babies 3-18 months and their caregivers. She collaborated on Homeworld as a co-creator, performer, and designer of the baby-safe installation and props. From 2015-2020 she served as teaching artist, designer, and stage manager, for a non-profit Theatre Education Organization and later brought theatre programming to schools in the Greater Philadelphia Area as their Education and Outreach Manager. Tess is passionate about collaboration and storytelling and its power to educate, inspire, and start conversations. She is dedicated to cultivating confidence in those who wish to tell their own stories. Here's to Sweet Liv, Tess' most beloved collaborator and inspiration.
Honey is the mother of Liv, Tess and Max, and currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Chuck. She received a bachelors degree in sociology from The University of Pennsylvania, later moving to Boulder, CO. where she became CFO and co-owner of a staffing firm for over 25 years before retiring in July 2018. When Liv died she decided that she wanted to create something that would help to prevent other families from feeling the brutally painful grief of suicide loss. She wanted to be different and creative, just like Liv was in life, to reach young people, nationally and globally. Her mission is to continue to encourage open, fearless communication and to break down the barriers of stigma and shame around mental health and suicide.
Susan Caso is a Licensed Professional Counselor working with teens and college students over the last seventeen years. She counsels individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and suicidal ideation as well as helping families in their supportive role. She earned two undergraduate degree’s in Psychology and Human Development from the University of Kansas, along with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado. She has worked in clinical settings ranging from agency work, residential treatment, public schools, and private practice. She was a board member for Second Wind Fund of Boulder County for five years and is dedicated to finding ways to create awareness on the topic of mental health and educating others of how to create a safe environment for those struggling to feel supported.
Christine Osmundson, Panel Moderator
Christine is a Licensed Professional Counselor and one of the founders and current Board President of CB State of Mind. Christine has a Master’s degree in Psychology from NYU and is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 22 years experience in private practice psychotherapy and psychiatric inpatient care for children and adults. She specializes in crisis intervention through her work as a Volunteer with the American Red Cross 9/11 Disaster Relief in NYC, private practice, community mental health organizations, Department of Youth Corrections, and residential/day treatment school programs. She is dedicated to furthering CBSOM’s mission which is to reduce the stigma of Mental Health while providing free therapy scholarships to people that are uninsured and underinsured in Gunnison County. Since its inception, which is less than a year ago, CBSOM has provided over 300 free counseling scholarships to community members in need of immediate mental health services.