Kentucky Wesleyan College will host internationally acclaimed wellness and mental health advocate Kevin Hines on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Legacy Owensboro Church at 3300 Frederica St., as part of its Every Life Matters Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week. Hines survived an attempt to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge; he is an award-winning global speaker, bestselling author and documentary filmmaker. His presentation, “Cracked, Not Broken,” will be followed by a question and answer period and book signing. The event is free and open to the public.
Hines has dedicated his life to saving lives by spreading the message of hope and sharing his art of living mentally well. He shares the story of his unlikely survival and strong will to live with audiences.
He offers steps for living mentally well and discusses clinical studies that prove why the steps are important to maintaining wellness for everyone, not just persons with a diagnosed mental illness. Audiences gain knowledge of how to build their own toolkit for maintaining their mental wellness, as well as the wellness of loved ones.
“Kevin Hines is articulate, compelling and encouraging,” said Wesleyan Director of Counseling Services Terri Petzold, LCSW, TCADC. “We are pleased to host him for the benefit of our community. Attendees will be inspired by his story and message of hope that will provide tools for living well mentally.”
Hines is a respected and admired voice of lived experience, and his story is a remarkable testament to the strength of the human spirit. He released his bestselling memoir, “Cracked Not Broken, Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt,” in 2013, and he has been featured on CNN, Fox, “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “PrimeTime Live” and in numerous print publications.
A feature length documentary film, “Suicide: The Ripple Effect,” highlights Hines’ personal journey, the devastating effects of suicide and the tremendous positive ripple effects of advocacy, inspiration and hope that are helping millions stay alive and heal.
The recipient of many awards in recognition of his efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues, Hines sits on numerous boards and has testified before the U.S. Congress alongside Patrick Kennedy in support of the Mental Health Parity Bill.
More information about Kevin Hines and his commitment as a mental wellness advocate is available here.
For more information about Kevin Hines’ presentation and Kentucky Wesleyan’s Every Life Matters Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week, contact Wesleyan Director of Counseling Services Terri Petzold at terri.petzold@kwc.edu or 270-852-3183.
Full Schedule for Every Life Matters Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week
