A man who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and survived to tell his miraculous story about pushing through bipolar disorder and depression will lecture about “Truth about Suicide” at 5:30 p.m. March 28 in Newman Auditorium.

Kevin Hines is a public speaker, writer and advocate of mental health and suicide awareness who has traveled and spoken throughout most of the country as well as Canada and Ireland.

As a public speaker, Hines delivers a message of hope. “To come to SRJC intrigued me and I want to be part of affecting change everywhere and especially in Santa Rosa and I will do my best to try to bring hope to people who have little or none,” he said.

Hines recently won the “Welcome Back Lifetime Achievement Award” presented by the Eli Lilly group and the National Council for United Health Care.

Hines will talk about his life and what led him to attempt suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2000. At the time, Hines was 17, battling depression and bipolar disorder. Hines said his decision was solely impacted by his mental illness and the medications he was on at the time may have been too strong.

Hines’ struggle with his disorder led him to believe he couldn’t talk to anyone but God. Despite his faith, Hines still struggled. But a second before he jumped and was “free falling” he asked God to help him. Hines said, “My faith is a big reason why I am doing what I am doing.”

Hines thinks it’s important for those contemplating suicide, struggling with bipolar disorder or depression, to realize that they are not alone. “That was the biggest problem I had. I thought I was alone. If I had known that I wasn’t alone, I believe I wouldn’t have been as tempted,” he said. “You can be the one who saves your life. You deserve to live and be happy.”