Kevin Briggs

As a trained negotiator and mental health advocate, Sergeant Kevin Briggs’ story and lived experiences have been featured at the Technology, Entertainment, and Design 2014 Conference as a TED Talk, NBC’s Access Live, Yahoo News, The New Yorker magazine, Men’s Health magazine, NPR’s Bob Edwards Radio Show, People magazine, USA Today, as well as other magazines, newspapers, radio, and podcasts across the globe. His first book, Guardian of the Golden Gate, was released in July 2015.

Briggs, a retired California Highway Patrol sergeant, spent many years patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge. While on patrol, he encountered numerous individuals clinging to life by a thread – individuals who had lost hope and could see no way out of their current situation. Through his compassion and ability to “Listen and Understand,” he encouraged several hundred individuals over his career to not end their life but to begin a new chapter. These challenging but rewarding efforts earned him the nickname “Guardian of the Golden Gate.”

After spending 3 years in the United States Army, 3 years with the California Department of Corrections, and 23 years with the California Highway Patrol, Briggs retired to dedicate his life to promoting mental health awareness across the globe through Pivotal Points, an organization he founded.

Today, Briggs is mapping a movement as he speaks and trains others in suicide prevention, crisis management, and negotiations. He shares his “Listen to Understand” skills and discusses his personal mental health struggles in depth.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kevin Briggs has an employment relationship with Pivotal Points. He receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kevin Briggs is a member of the American Association of Suicidology, the National Alliance on Mental Health, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.