Raising Awareness – Instilling Hope – Combating Stigma

AWARDS/HONORS
2010 - Invited by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) to join their Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP), funded by the SAMHSA Recovery to Practice Grant. The panel advises the grant as well as other activities of the APNA involving psychiatric nursing practice.

2009 – Victorious Woman Award – presented for positively affecting entire families, workplaces, and whole neighborhoods.

2008 – Recipient of the Garden State Seeds of Hope Award presented by New Jersey Monthly Magazine. This award honors exceptional people who go to extraordinary lengths to help and give hope to others. Learn more about the award.

Testimonials

Carol Kivler's experiences need to be communicated to all employees.
Attendee, St. Barnabas Behavioral Health Center

Carol’s presentation was the best Grand Rounds we have had at the Cleveland Clinic this year.
Tatiana Falcone, M.D.
Cleveland Clinic


Thank you, Carol, for having the courage to speak so openly at our Grand Rounds series about your journey of recovery. Your heartfelt testimonial of optimism and resilience is moving and inspirational, and is an invaluable message for professionals and lay people alike.
Jonathan Krejci, Ph.D.
Director of Training and Research, Princeton House Behavioral Health


Your Grand Rounds presentation, “The Other Side of Psychosis” was exceptionally well received by our department. Thank you once again for taking the time from your busy schedule to join us and share your expertise and advocacy.
Joseph Austerman, D.O.
Chair, Psychiatry Grand Rounds Committee, Cleveland Clinic


I want to thank you for presenting as our keynote speaker for this year’s conference. You are a very inspiring and dynamic speaker. Sharing your first-hand experience so openly with the audience was very moving and really touched the hearts of us all. You have reminded me that there is always hope for recovery and the small things that we do on a daily basis can really make a difference in the lives of those we serve in the field of vocational rehabilitation services.
Amy M. Kaboski, MS, LRC, CRC, CPRP, NCC, DCC
President, New Jersey Rehabilitation Association


Carol was able to provide insight and I was amazed at her courage for being able to share her story, even her darkest moments. I was also more enlightened about the difficult journey that so many of our patients experience and I learned how important it is to instill even the smallest amount of hope in the lives of our patients.
Patricia Cole, MSN, RN
Prince William Health System

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for appearing on "American Family" to share your story about overcoming depression. You were absolutely dynamite! Your discussion was not only informative, setting a positive example for others who suffer from clinical depression but also very powerful emotionally. The insights and honesty you offered on the challenges of successfully overcoming depression were right on the money and extremely well articulated. You should be very proud of your own journey. You are certainly an inspiration to me!
Bettina Gregory
Host, GoodLife TV Network

We were very fortunate that you were able to speak to us about your illness this past Tuesday. I believe that your presentation made a real impact on the researchers here. I have had nothing but positive comments from many of my co-workers about your presentation. I came away inspired, knowing that the medicines we are striving to develop truly make a difference in real peoples' lives. I've always believed that, but real experiences and faces mean much more.
Albert Uveges
Scientist, Wyeth Research

Every time Carol recounts her own experiences with mental illness and recovery she demonstrates that people who have mental illness can and do recover and live productive lives. By standing up and speaking out, Carol is breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness one audience at a time.
Jerry Lindauer
Executive Director, NAMI-Mercer (National Alliance of Mental Illness)

It was our pleasure to have you come and speak with us. You were truly inspirational, and in fact made the research group realize that indeed our work is important and can impact the lives of others. Many times in our discipline scientists find themselves caught up in the scientific details and forget the true goal. Your presentation has further motivated us and will not be forgotten.
Lee E. Schechter, Ph.D., Director, Depression and Anxiety Research, Wyeth Research

What can I say? Your presentation was absolutely incredible! My students were riveted to their seats. You have opened up their eyes in ways I never could have. Your presentation has changed not only their professional lives but their personal lives as well.

I have spoken to my colleagues, and we want you to come back again next year and speak to all of our students!
Donna A. Gaffney, RN, DNSc, FAAN, Seton Hall University

Bravo! Carol! Your personal story was extremely enlightening both personally and professionally. Not only did you take the negative stigma away from mental illness for me, you reinforced the very reason why I chose to go into nursing in the first place to make a difference.
Nursing Student, Seton Hall University

Thank you for your optimism, your wisdom, and courage that you shared today. I will remember you and your story and hopefully make a difference in someone's life.
Nursing Student, Seton Hall University

Carol Kivler brought home the humanity and the anguish of mental illness. She is so brave to take her experience on the road and speak so frankly. Thank you, Carol.
Nursing Student, Seton Hall University

Carol has given me the courage to approach not only patients suffering from mental illness but also a lot of suggestions for dealing with patients with physical illness. There isn't such a large difference between the two populations (beyond the stigma, of course).
Nursing Student, Seton Hall University

Thank you for sharing your personal story with us. Your journey is so inspiring and your remarks were so comforting to those of us who are filled with hope for our loved ones with mental illness. It is terrific that your message is reaching more and more people, as you are an outstanding role model and advocate.
Carol Nied, Development Committee, NAMI-Mercer