Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Gurley.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I became a mental health advocate after my son, Will, started discussing his battle with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation publicly. At the age of 15, Will founded the You Matter Festival, where he shared his personal struggles with a 1,000 person crowd. This started Will’s role as a local Kansas City teen advocate for mental health. Because of Will’s involvement, I recorded a video for #Zeroreasonswhy, a Kansas City area organization working to end teen suicide. The video was viewed over 10,000 times, which was the impetus of The Just A Mom Podcast. The Just A Mom Podcast launched in September of 2022, and is based on my personal experience of parenting a child with mental illness. When Will was in the darkest point of his illness I felt very alone and, at points, that there wasn’t a lot of hope. I kept his struggles to myself because I was afraid of the judgment around my parenting. I was afraid I would be called a “bad mom” because my son was struggling with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. The Just A Mom podcast is the resource I wish I had when my son was in a deep, dark place. The Just A Mom Podcast currently has 120 episodes available and features interviews with parents of kids who have struggled with mental illness, those with lived experience, and mental health professionals and organizations. The goals of The Just A Mom podcast are to help people know they are not alone and there is hope, to encourage people to talk about mental health thus reducing the stigma, and to equip parents and family members with mental health resources.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started The Just A Mom Podcast, I could barely turn on my computer! All joking aside, I am not particularly tech savvy. Thankfully, my husband and my kids are, so they help me in a pinch. Will produces The Just A Mom Podcast.
On a personal note, deciding to start The Just A Mom Podcast was not easy. I had been in the background for 25 years supporting my husband and kids in all of their endeavors. For me to put myself out there and be so vulnerable publicly was very scary. I dragged my feet for a while before I decided to actually do it. But I knew I had to do it as I had been uniquely positioned to do this work, and these stories need to be shared and heard far and wide. Everyone is impacted by mental health, and we need to get to the place where we treat mental health the same way we do physical health.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work is all about sharing stories. I do this primarily through The Just A Mom Podcast, where I help people share stories about their personal journeys of having a loved one with a mental health issue. Presenting valuable mental health resources to equip families for a mental health problem or crisis is a big part of what I do as well. I also share my own parenting journey in-depth by speaking at school and church groups as well as mental health conferences in Kansas City and across the country.
When I decided to call it The Just A Mom Podcast, it was because I’m not a physician, counselor or mental health professional–I’m just a mom. AND I am an expert in my story and experience, and I can help people by sharing others’ experiences and expertises. When I launched The Just A Mom Podcast in 2022, there was nothing else like it. I knew that because I had desperately looked for supportive resources for myself as a parent when Will was struggling and found very little. I think I am known for being honest and direct. I also think I’m known for asking difficult questions that can really help people understand what it’s like to have a loved one with a mental illness or how the experience of suffering from a mental health condition impacts an individual and those closest to him or her.
I am most proud of the fact that I have taken one of the most difficult experiences of my life and turned it into a way to help others. Breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness and mental health issues is also something I am proud to do.
What matters most to you?
My Christian faith and belief in Jesus, my family and friends. I believe God has used our suffering to bring about good, and one of the ways is through The Just A Mom Podcast. My family are the most important people in my life–I have been married to my husband, Dan, for 33 years. We have three incredible children, Jeff, Olivia and Will. They are all married to amazing people and we have two grand dogs! I am also incredibly blessed with great friends with whom I love spending time and have all been incredibly supportive to me in this journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thejustamompodcast.com/
- Instagram: thejustamompodcast
- Facebook: The Just A Mom Podcast
- LinkedIn: Susie Gurley
