From Desperation to Resilience: The Kevin Hines' Story

Photo By Augusta Vargas | World-renowned mental health advocate and global speaker Kevin Hines visited Fort Hunter Liggett for Suicide Prevention Month. He told his story of survival, having attempted suicide by jumping off of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bride.  

JOLON, CALIFORNIA , CA, UNITED STATES

09.29.2023

Story by Augusta Vargas 

Fort Hunter Liggett Public Affairs Office

The Fort Hunter Liggett Theater was packed on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, in light of Suicide Prevention Month. World-renowned speaker and award-winning bestselling author and filmmaker Kevin Hines would be speaking, sharing his life-long struggle with suicidal ideation and delivering his experience as a survivor having attempted to take his life jumping off the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge.

Hines spoke of his early childhood living in squalor in the unforgiving streets of San Francisco, California. At an unfortunate young age, Kevin and his brother lived in poverty with parents who struggled with drug addiction and often left Kevin abandoned and unattended in pay-by-the-day motels with no adult care or supervision.

It wasn't until a tenant of the building that Kevin was staying in heard the cries of two abandoned children and decided to make a phone call to alert Child Protective Services, causing Kevin and his sibling to enter the system indefinitely. Attempts to keep the brothers united within the same household failed, resulting in a life in and out of foster care.

While Kevin eventually found a loving adoptive family, tragedy struck when his twin brother fell ill with a deadly strain of bronchitis. The loss of his only sibling and the eventual suicide of his favorite drama teacher during his adolescent years cast a dark shadow over Hines' teenage and young adult life. Despite the warmth and love of his adoptive family, an active social life, and a relationship with a loving girlfriend, Hines decided to take his life on September 25, 2000.

This decision didn't come easy for Hines, as he battled suicidal thoughts hours before his attempt. "I remember waking up my father early in the morning and telling him I loved him. My dad woke up with a concerned look and asked me if I was okay, to which I paused and responded, yes. Shortly after, my father went back to sleep. I remember rocking myself back and forth at the side of his bed in the dark, desperately trying to come up with the words to explain how I truly felt." That night, Hines hoped his father would convince him to change his mind.

That cold September evening on the Golden Gate Bridge, Kevin Hines would make the worst decision of his life. Feeling desperate and alone, he decided to end the pain. He climbed over the railing of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and, in a moment of despair, flung himself more than 200 feet below into the freezing dark waters of the Pacific Ocean.

During his rapid descent, Hines recalled an instantaneous feeling of regret as he prayed to himself, "God, I don't want to die. Please help me." It was a prayer heard amidst the chaos of despair. Suddenly, a lifeline appeared from underneath the murky water. A sea lion positioned itself beneath Hines' flailing body, keeping him afloat long enough for the Coast Guard to arrive. Meanwhile, on the bridge above, a compassionate woman witnessed the unfolding tragedy and dialed for help.

For Kevin Hines, that was the day he survived the unsurvivable and knew God had answered his prayer. He had been granted a second chance at life, a chance to find healing, hope, and recovery.

Before departing the Fort Hunter Liggett Theater, Hines emphasized the importance of mental wellness and provided lifesaving resources for those who may be struggling with suicide. He encouraged folks to break negative thinking patterns, saying, "If you're ever stuck in a negative thought pattern you can't get out of, find a mirror, any mirror, and look into it and say, I am not my thoughts. I am not how I feel right now. I can choose to live, to thrive, and embrace the gift called life."

In light of the Kevin Hines story, it's a poignant reminder that even in life's darkest moments, there is hope for profound transformation. His survival of the Golden Gate Bridge leap became the catalyst for inspiring countless others to choose life.

Although suicide can be challenging to discuss, it's vital to recognize that help is available and that conversations can bring about meaningful change. The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline have observed a remarkable shift in individuals' moods after reaching out for support.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or depression and simply need someone to talk to, remember that assistance is only a call, text, or online chat away. Reach out to the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to connect with a compassionate, trained crisis counselor, available 24/7.

• Date Taken: 09.29.2023
• Date Posted: 10.18.2023 11:44
• Story ID: 454753
• Location: JOLON, CALIFORNIA , CA, US