A Golden Gate Bridge jump survivor’s new lease on life
Kevin Hines jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2000 and lived to tell about it. On the new episode of the American Legion Be the One podcast he talks about his mental-health journey, how he turned his miraculous survival into a role of advocacy and an upcoming movie. (Hines also recently spoke at the Legion’s second annual Be the One Symposium.)
“I love your mission at Be the One,” he says. “It’s so beautiful because we all need to be that one person to give back to someone in need.”
His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder for us to love the life we have. Hines is a multi-award-winning filmmaker, bestselling author and an award-winning global suicide prevention, and mental health advocate.
Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 19, he attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. He is now one of only about 40 people who’ve survived that 220-foot jump.
“I was in the greatest point of despair I’d ever experienced when I attempted to take my own life by leaping off the Golden Gate Bridge,” he recalls. “It was the worst day of my life at the time. I believed I was worthless and had no value. I was wrong. Suicide wasn’t the answer.”
Hines recalls immediately regretting the attempt, as his hands left the rail. “I recognized I made the greatest mistake of my life and it was likely too late.”
He shares the “Art of Wellness,” a 10-step toolkit he created that helps people find spiritual health and wellbeing. “These are common sense techniques that are science-backed that are proven to benefit brain health.”
While not a veteran, he has taken his message of healing to corporations, hospital associations, military members and others. “I’m very fond of our armed forces and our reserves because we are the land of the free because of the brave, because of them,” he said. “You can’t deny them. Whether you hate war or not, someone has to keep us safe.”
He offers veterans resources for assistance on this web page.
Hines released a memoir, "Cracked, Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt," in 2013 that went on to become a bestseller and produced the 2018 multi-award-winning documentary “Suicide: The Ripple Effect.”
Hines is also involved in an upcoming documentary, “The Net,” named after a new initiative that prevents suicide on the bridge. “This movie will save lives,” he says.
For the full episode, as well as more than 260 other podcast episodes from The American Legion, visit legion.org/tangoalphalima.
This episode is the 13th in the Be the One series. Some recent ones include:
Episode nine: Army veteran George Eshleman set out to hike the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail with one purpose: taking his life. But along the way, he found hope, camaraderie and purpose, and his journey is now told in a documentary, “The Keeper.”
Episode 10: Air Force veteran Dr. Tiffany Tajiri, a trained psychologist, talks about her faith-based recovery book, steps to overcome suicidal ideation and more.
Episode 11: Dr. Chris Frueh, the son of an Air Force veteran, talks about how his dad’s military experience sent him on a path to help veterans as a clinical psychologist.
Episode 12: Air Force veteran and Ohio State University researcher Dr. Craig Bryan is focused on conducting research to improve treatments to prevent suicide and promote recovery from PTSD.
The next Be the One episode will drop Oct. 1. All episodes are available in both audio and video formats here as well as on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast-hosting sites. The video version is available at the Legion’s YouTube channel