Suicide attempt survivor Kevin Hines struggled throughout his adolescence with depression before attempting to take his own life in 2000. He will share his story of survival and hope with local audiences at 7 p.m. on Oct. 2 at Otsego High School and at 6 p.m. on Oct. 4 at Northwood High School. Both presentations are open to the public and free of charge. Local agencies will staff information tables at the event so that attendees may learn more about treatment and prevention resources.
An award-winning speaker who has traveled the globe with his message, Hines is being brought to Wood County by Project Aware Ohio, the Wood County Educational Service Center, and the Wood County Suicide Prevention Coalition. He will also make daytime presentations to students at several area high schools.
Hines was a college student in September, 2000 when the torment of bi-polar disorder became too much for him. He believed that no one cared and was convinced he needed to die. Regret seized him immediately and fortunately rescue personnel were nearby. His injuries required months of physical rehabilitation. Learning to manage the symptoms of his mental illness was just as hard.
While recovering, Hines embarked on a new mission: spreading a message of hope to those living with mental illness and suicidal thoughts. Hines now travels the world to talk to students, the military, clergy, clinicians, law enforcement, business, and industry about the complex conditions that contribute to mental illness and how to cope, seek support, and maintain hope. He has earned numerous awards for his work and sits on boards including the International Bi-Polar Foundation, the Bridge Rail Foundation, and the Survivors Committee of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In 2013, he released his memoir “Cracked Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving after a Suicide Attempt.”
“When reviewing recent Wood County youth survey results, we noticed an increase in suicide ideation among 7th -11th grade students, making our local rates higher than the state and national averages,” said Angela Patchen, Project AWARE Manager. “We decided we needed to do something to address this topic. Mr. Hines’s story is featured in the Youth Mental Health First Aid training we have been providing to schools, so it seemed like a natural fit.”
