Speaker shares personal story in speaking on suicide
Suicide prevention and mental health advocate Kevin Hines will speak at a community presentation on May 1 in Whitefish. The event is hosted by the Nate Chute Foundation. (Photo courtesy C. Jason Brown)
The Nate Chute Foundation will host a free community presentation on Tuesday, May 1 featuring award winning global speaker and suicide prevention and mental health advocate Kevin Hines.
Hines has reached millions with his story of an unlikely survival and his strong will to live. Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. He is one of only 34 (less than 1 percent) to survive the fall and he is the only Golden Gate Bridge jump survivor who is actively spreading the message of living mentally healthy internationally.
Through his tireless advocacy and policy efforts of over 10 years, Hines has been a leading champion for constructing a suicide prevention net on the Golden Gate Bridge and was instrumental in success of the approved funding on June 2014.
In the summer of 2013, Hines released his bestselling memoir titled “Cracked Not Broken, Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt.”
He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Council of Behavioral Health.
Hines has also been awarded by SAMSHA as a Voice Awards Fellow and Award Winner, an Achievement Winner by the U.S. Veterans Affairs and is a recipient of several military Medals.
Hines sits on the boards of The International Bipolar Foundation, The Bridge Rail Foundation (BRF), The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s Consumer Survivors Sub-Committee and The Mental Health Association of San Francisco (MHASF).
Hines has spoken and testified in congressional hearings alongside Patrick Kennedy in support of the Mental Health Parity Bill.
He has been a powerful voice for the lived experience movement for over 15 years.
His will to live and stay mentally well has inspired people worldwide. His compelling story has touched diverse, global audiences within colleges and universities, high schools, corporations, clergy, military, clinicians, health and medical communities, law enforcement organizations, and various conferences. Thousands have communicated to Hines that his story helped save their lives.
Hines will speak on Tuesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the O’Shaugnessey Center in Whitefish. Tickets are free, but should be reserved prior to the event. Tickets and information are available at natechutefoundation.org/events