Survivor, Mental Health Advocate to Speak at Fisher

Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Kevin Hines attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Since the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, thousands of people have tried to take their lives by jumping; he is among only 34 to have survived.

Now an award-winning global speaker, best-selling author, and documentary filmmaker, Hines serves as a suicide prevention and mental health advocate. He will share his story during a lecture at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Cleary Family Auditorium in Kearney Hall at St. John Fisher University.

His appearance at Fisher is thanks to a partnership between the University’s Health and Wellness Center, the Student Government Association, and Nazareth College’s Health and Counseling Services and Office of Veterans Services. The event is free and open to the Fisher and Nazareth communities; seating is first come, first served.

“We are very pleased to welcome Kevin to our campus. He is a dynamic speaker and his story of recovery from mental health is certainly inspiring,” said Rebecca Kieffer ’96, LCSW-R, director of the Health and Wellness Center at Fisher. “Highlighting that recovery from mental health is possible is a wonderful message of hope for those who may be suffering.”

In advance of the lecture, Nazareth will host a screening of the documentary, “Suicide the Ripple Effect,” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11, in the Shults Forum. Directed by Hines, the full-length film details his story of survival and focuses on the devastating effects of suicide and the tremendous positive ripple effects of advocacy. A panel discussion of the film will follow the screening.

For more information, email fisherjed@sjf.edu.