The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most recognizable structures to define a modern city. Yet, for author Kevin Hines the bridge is not merely a marker of a place or a time. Instead, the bridge marks the beginning of his remarkable story. At 19 years old, Kevin attempted to take his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge - a distance which took four seconds to fall. Recently diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, Kevin had begun to hear voices telling him he had to die, and days before his attempt, he began to believe them.
The fall would break his body, but not his spirit. His story chronicles the extraordinary will of the author to live mentally well in the face of his mental illness: bipolar disorder with psychotic features. With each mental breakdown, however, the author’s desire to live mentally well-- and to be a mental health advocate-- pulls him from the depths of his condition. Kevin’s story is a remarkable testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder to us to love the life we have. His story also reminds us that living mentally well takes time, endurance, hard work, and support. With these disciplines in place, those living with even very difficult diagnoses can achieve better lives for themselves and those who help to support and care for them.
Kevin Hines is an award-winning brain/mental health and suicide prevention activist entrepreneur, multiple award-winning filmmaker, best-selling author, international educator and speaker who reaches audiences with his story of an unlikely survival and his strong will to live. Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (19 years of age), he attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. He is one of only thirty-four to survive the fall and the only one to regain full physical mobility. He is one of only thirty-four (less than 1%) 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 fifteen years, Kevin 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, Kevin released his bestselling memoir titled Cracked Not broken, Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt.
In 2016, Mental Health America awarded Kevin their highest honor, The Clifford W. Beers Award for his efforts to improve the lives of and attitudes toward people with mental illnesses. Previously, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Council of Behavioral Health in partnership with Eli Lilly. Kevin has also been awarded by SAMSHA as Voice Awards Fellow and Award Winner, an Achievement Winner by the US Veterans Affairs and received over 50 U.S. military excellence medals as a civilian.
In 2018, Kevin executive produced and directed his multiple award-winning documentary film, Suicide: The Ripple Effect, about the impact of suicides on families and loved ones.
He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Council of Behavioral Health. Kevin has also been awarded by SAMSHA as a Voice Awards Fellow and Award Winner, an Achievement Winner by the US Veterans Affairs and is a recipient of over 50 military Medals.
Kevin sits on the advisory boards of The International Bipolar Foundation, The Crisis Text Line, The Bridge Rail Foundation (BRF), and The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's Consumer Survivors Sub=Committee. Kevin 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.
Kevin's 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.
His story was featured in the 2006 critically-acclaimed film "The Bridge" by the film director and producer Eric Steel. He has been featured on CNN, FOX, Time Magazine, New York Times, NBC's The Today Show, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, The Today Show, Good Morning America, ABCs PrimeTime Live, BBC World, among several other international media outlets.
Kevin believes in the power of the human spirit and in the fact that you can find the ability to live mentally well His mantra: "life is a gift, that is why they call it the present. Cherish it always."
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kevin Hines is an award-winning brain/mental health and suicide entrepreneur. He is an award-winning filmmaker. He is an author and receives royalties. Mr. Hines receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Kevin Hines is the recipient of The Clifford W. Beers Award. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Council of Behavioral Health. Mr. Hines has also been awarded by SAMSHA as a Voice Awards Fellow and Award Winner, an Achievement Winner by the US Veterans Affairs and is a recipient of over 50 military Medals.
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