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Attempted suicide survivor to speak on ‘bridge of hope’

Kevin Hines, whose struggle with bipolar disorder led him to attempt suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, will speak about the painful realities of mental illness as part of Rockford Public Schools’ Developing Healthy Kids series. Hines’ talk on Oct. 17, “The Bridge,” aims to foster a “critical bridge of hope between life and death” for people struggling with serious mental illness.

If You Go

Who: Kevin Hines, author, filmmaker and mental-health advocate

What: Lecture and Community Mental Health Resource Expo

When: Wednesday, Oct. 17; lecture at 6:30 p.m., expo at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Where: Rockford High School auditorium and cafeteria

Hines, who was diagnosed at age 19, is one of just 34 people to survive a fall off the bridge, and the only one to regain full physical mobility, according to promotional materials. He is the author of “Cracked but not Broken” and “Through the Eyes of One,” and will be available to sign them at the event.

Before and after his talk, visitors can tour a Community Mental Health Resource Expo featuring therapists, advocates and support organizations.

The program returns to the speaker series’ original mission of mental health awareness and suicide prevention,  said Kirsten Myers, director of special services for Rockford Public Schools. “

“We feel strongly that we have opened the lines of communication in the last six years of DHK programming and have decreased some of the stigma associated with mental health,” Myers said. “However, we have not gone back and openly faced the topic of suicide since the first year. These conversations are critical, important, and life-saving, which is why we planned this powerful event.”

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Charles Honey
Charles Honey
Charles Honey is editor-in-chief of SNN, and covers series and issues stories for all districts. As a reporter for The Grand Rapids Press/mLive from 1985 to 2009, his beats included Grand Rapids Public Schools, local colleges and education issues. Honey served as editor of The Press’ award-winning Religion section for 15 years and its columnist for 20. His freelance articles have appeared in Christianity Today, Religion News Service and Faith & Leadership magazine. Read Charles' full bio

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