Suicide survivor raises mental health awareness in the Pine Belt

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Kevin Hines, a mental health advocate, award-winning Global speaker, and bestselling author tells his story of an unlikely survival.

Hines is Pine Grove's guest speaker and spoke at the University of Southern Mississippi Thursday to raise awareness on mental health among teenagers.

According to Pine Grove officials suicide is ranked number 3 for leading cause of death between 15 and 34-year-olds.

In 2000 Hines jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in northern California after battling major depression. Hines said 99% of the people who jump off the bridge do not make it out alive.

The 1% that do survive suffer from physical challenges after the fall. Hines said it is a miracle he is part of the surviving and thriving one percent.

“I get to tell my story, I believe it is a privilege and honor to any audience, and frankly, I’m just, I think about it like this, I am just glad to be anywhere" said Hines.

He continued, "I was almost gone from this earth, in a very real way, I nearly died from what I did, I am grateful to be alive, I am grateful to exist."

Hines said it is a blessing he is still even walking. "I hope tonight we get to reach some people who are in need in this community, and who choose to find hope and help at the other end of the light" he added.