Episode #26: The Committed Project with @Kristen_Abell & @_SueCaulfield

For our last #InVinoFab interview episode of 2018, that’s episode no. 26, we are thrilled to chat with a couple of brilliant ladies who are care-fronting mental illness and more in higher ed with The Committed Project. We had a candid conversation with Kristen Abell (@Kristen_Abell) & Sue Caulfield (@_SueCaulfield) about one of their biggest passion projects that is very near and dear to both of them - mental health and wellness. We talk about creativity, side projects, finding a therapists, how to be a resource, care for others and self-care, and more. I appreciate the candor, realness, and conversation... always. I think y’all will enjoy the chat we had with these two rad ladies.
For our last #InVinoFab interview episode of 2018, that’s episode no. 26, we are thrilled to chat with a couple of brilliant ladies who are care-fronting mental illness and more in higher ed with The Committed Project. We had a candid conversation with Kristen Abell (@Kristen_Abell) & Sue Caulfield (@_SueCaulfield) about one of their biggest passion projects that is very near and dear to both of them - mental health and wellness. We talk about creativity, side projects, finding a therapists, how to be a resource, care for others and self-care, and more. I appreciate the candor, realness, and conversation... always. I think y’all will enjoy the chat we had with these two rad ladies.

Back in 2015, Kristen & Sue edited the book with #suedles to illustrate a compilation of stories about mental illness in student affairs in a book called, Committed: The Stories of Mental Illness in Student Affairs. Kristen helped with narrating experiences and Sue created drawings (a.k.a. #suedles) that relate to each personal story from the higher education practitioners who shared about their mental illness. From this book project, their work with mental health awareness led to developing the blog series into The Committed Project (https://thecommittedproject.org/), an organization that advocates for and supports higher ed professionals experiencing mental illness. For the past few years, @CommittedPrjct has been sharing stories - mostly firsthand accounts - from other professionals in higher ed who experience mental illness. You are not alone in this, please read the shared stories from your peers in higher ed on The Committed Project Blog: http://thecommittedproject.org/resources/blog/ 

Additional Committed Project Resources to check out on the website: 

Kristen Abell is one of the two co-founders of The Committed Project and is the Executive Director of Awareness and Advocacy. She serves as the Assistant Director of Digital Services at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has been in higher ed for a looooong time, in a variety of roles. She loves to write, and has written extensively about her experiences with mental illness - both online and for the book she will one day publish (she swears!). She lives with the two loves of her life - her awesome husband Sean and her amazing son Aedan, and their small zoo of animals.You can connect with Kristen at kristen@thecommittedproject.org or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kristen_Abell
Her creative stitches of cross are badass, ask Be https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhr4_FYnOTX/ 

Sue Caulfield is one of the two co-founders of The Committed Project and is our Director of Visual Translation. By day, she serves as the Director of Student Affairs at the Zucker School of Medicine. By night (and sometimes other parts of the day), she is a maker. Her favorite days are spent walking to a local shop, listening to a podcast and getting a good meal with her better half Dan.
Her creative #suedles on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/suecaulfield/ 
Other Podcast: The Imposters http://imposterspod.com/ 

“If there was one thing you could change about higher education or working in higher ed, what would that be?” The Committed Podcast Question

#InVinoFab Read Recommendations:
BOOKS:
-Crazy Rich Asians & China Rich Girl by Kevin Kwan http://www.kevinkwanbooks.com/ 
-Committed: Stories of Mental Illness In Student Affairs https://studentaffairscollective.org/mental-illness-in-student-affairs-book/
-Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson https://thebloggess.com/furiously-happy/
-Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing it https://peggyklaus.com/books/ 

PODCASTS: 
---Episode 3: Discovering It’s Depression with Gavin Henning https://thecommittedproject.org/podcast/episode-3-discovering-its-depression/ 
-The Imposters Podcast http://imposterspod.com/ 
--- Finale Question from Kristen: Rejection http://imposterspod.com/listen-1/2018/6/14/rejection 
-Where Should We Begin? https://www.estherperel.com/podcast 
-The Hilarious World of Depression https://www.apmpodcasts.org/thwod/ 
-The Birth Hour https://thebirthhour.com/ 
-Everything Is Alive https://www.everythingisalive.com/ 
-My Dad Wrote A Porno http://www.mydadwroteaporno.com/ 

VIDEOS:
#ACPA15 Kristen Abell: A Love Story https://youtu.be/Yx6NzpXt8CA
#ACPA15 Sue Caulfield: Forget Rosetta Stone: Bring on Visual Language https://youtu.be/dzoN-jisig0 

DRINKS:
Sue: Coffee... always. And doodles for herself and not sharing
Kristin: Tussock Jumper Malbec https://www.tussockjumperwines.com/our-wines/malbec/ & Sangria
 
Other things we mentioned and talked about in this episode, not recommended above:
--Talkspace: Online Therapy https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy/ 
--What resources are on your campus to support the mental illness/health of faculty and staff (not just students)? What resources are available for higher ed employees? 
--Bend the ear of an administrator who wants to know what mental health needs faculty/staff need at your campus; this helps change policy, process and practice
--If we ask our higher ed professionals to do more with less as a leader at the institution, how are we being flexible and cognizant of their personal well-being, needs, creativity, and more?

If you are in need of support or need some help, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.

Is there someone else we should talk to? Do you have a question or issue we should chat about on a future pod?  Let us know. We’d love to hear from you about whose story we should share on a future #InVinoFab episode. Send us love, suggestions, and comments to: invinofabulum@gmail.com 

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