About the Film
Filmmakers worked with Susan Caso, MA LPC, The Liv Project’s Mental Health Director, and a team of therapists to help with the film. In addition, the film was vetted by the leading team at the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado to ensure the content was accurate, safe and in no way glorified this issue. The film has been approved for youth ages 14 and up.

MY SISTER LIV, directed by Grammy award winner Alan Hicks and produced by Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award winner Paula DuPre Pesmen, features an array of young voices and conversations with mental health professionals.

HELEN (HONEY) BEUF
LIV’S MOM AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LIV PROJECT

Honey is the Executive Director for The Liv Project. Honey raised her three children Max, Tess and Liv in a small town outside of Boulder, Colorado. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and co-founded a women-owned staffing firm where she served as Vice President and CFO until retiring in 2018. When her daughter Liv died by suicide in January of 2019, Honey and her daughter Tess were determined to start an organization to help prevent other families and communities from experiencing the brutal grief of suicide loss. Creativity has always played a vital role in Honey’s family, so it made sense to develop programs utilizing the power of artful imagination to normalize the dialogue about youth mental health and suicide. Honey embraces The Liv Project’s vision to see a global shift where fear of judgment does not hold anyone back from speaking openly about their mental health — a world where everyone has the skills to compassionately listen, support and safely guide those in crisis, so that youth suicide is no longer a reality.

TESS KUNIK
LIV’S SISTER AND PROGRAMS AND IMPACT DIRECTOR OF THE LIV PROJECT

Tess is the Programs and Impact Director for The Liv Project. Tess graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2013 and has since been working as a theatre artist and arts educator in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Tess is a performer and collaborator with Ninth Planet, a performance collective that produces community-powered performances. 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 as a co-creator, performer and designer of the baby-safe set/installation and props. From 2015-2020, she served as teaching artist, props designer and stage manager at Wolf Performing Arts Center and later brought theatre programming to schools in the Greater Philadelphia Area as their Education and Outreach Manager. Tess is passionate about 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 and using the power of creativity as a way to reduce the stigma around mental health.

SUSAN CASO, MA, LPC
MENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR FOR THE LIV PROJECT

Susan Caso is the Mental Health Director for The Liv Project and was the technical consultant for the film MY SISTER LIV. In addition, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked with teens and college students for almost 20 years. She counsels individuals with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and suicidal ideation, as well as helps families in their supportive roles. She earned two undergraduate degrees 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 is dedicated to finding ways to create awareness on the topic of mental health and educating others of how to create a safe and supportive environment for those who are struggling.