14: Golden Gate Bridge Jump Survivor Helps Thousands Heal from Racial Hate Crimes & Black Lives Matter (BLM) // The Story of Kevin Hines
Background:
Kevin Hines is a best-selling author, global public speaker, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. In the Year 2000, Kevin attempted to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Many factors contributed to his miraculous survival including a sea lion which kept him afloat until the Coast Guard arrived. Kevin now travels the world sharing his story of hope, healing, and recovery while teaching people of all ages the art of wellness & the ability to survive pain with true resilience.
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 industries. Thousands have communicated to Hines that his story helped save their lives. He has reached millions with his story. His story was featured in the 2006 film The Bridge by the film director and producer Eric Steel.
Currently, Kevin is in pre-production of his new Documentary Series The Journey, and is working on a comic book version of his life in cosmic & supernatural form called Hope Dealers. His fight has been long and arduous, but he is determined to remain committed to life until its natural end.
This Episode Brought to You By:
- The LifeLine Canada is dedicated to positive mental health and suicide prevention. Do you or someone you care about struggle with thoughts of suicide or other mental health issues? The Lifeline Canada Foundation is here to help! Suicide effects us all and the aftermath is devastating. Lifeline Canada’s vision is to continue to work at lowering the risk as well as helping those who have been effected by it. We are also committed to building mental health resilience. If you have the financial means to help, please make a donation at The LifeLine Canada.
Time-Stamped Show Notes:
- 3:02 Kevin supports the Black Lives Matter movement and he recalls some of the experiences he had with racism when he was a young boy.
- 4:04 Jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, Kevin considers himself lucky to be alive. He also shares his very meaningful motto about succeeding in life.
- 4:50 Eric shares his own thoughts and experiences on racism when he was growing up.
- 6:06 The bullying and violence he experienced as a child greatly influenced him and shaped him as he grew up.
- 8:21 According to Kevin, there is more segregation today in high school compared to the 1960s era.
- 10:45 How does a victim of racial crime heal the wounds and find a way not to lose faith in humanity? Kevin answers this question.
- 11:15 There is a preconceived notion that a person of color should be feared, which is so wrong.
- 15:30 When Kevin was in 7th grade, he was constantly bullied because of his color that he asked his parents to transfer him to another school.
- 19:11 As a teenager, Kevin suffered from paranoia, hallucinations, panic and anxiety attacks, delusions and other mental illnesses, which led to him jumping off the Golden Gate bridge.
- 21:20 Mental illness is not something that defines the person. Kevin talks about how to live with mental illness.
- 23:01 Kevin suggests doing therapies for people who have a lot of painful experiences in the past.
- 25:40 When he jumped from the bridge and into the water, something miraculous happened that kept him from drowning.
- 27:05 Kevin shares some very powerful words about suicide.
- 29:59 For people who are struggling from mental illness and need help, there are things that can be done to overcome this disease.
- 35:51 Kevin urges the listeners to check out his YouTube videos, which talks about mental health and well-being.
This Episode Sponsored By:
- 24:21 The LifeLine Canada is dedicated to positive mental health and suicide prevention. Do you or someone you care about struggle with thoughts of suicide or other mental health issues? The Lifeline Canada Foundation is here to help! Suicide effects us all and the aftermath is devastating. Lifeline Canada’s vision is to continue to work at lowering the risk as well as helping those who have been effected by it. We are also committed to building mental health resilience. If you have the financial means to help, please make a donation at thelifelinecanada.ca.
Key Point from the Interview:
- “The way we’re going to solve this issue is by fighting it at the polls, fighting it in legislative efforts, also on the street protesting our human rights to be equal, to be given equality and to lay waste to the reprehensible nature that is racism.”
- “Ninety nine percent of those who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge never get to tell their stories. Never. They’re gone. I do and it’s a blessing and a gift that I’m alive today and it’s a gift that I get to exist. And I feel like, if I get to exist, I have to try to help other people change their lives.”
