What does it take to survive the unthinkable and spend the rest of your life making sure others never have to?
In this profoundly moving episode of The Big Silence, Karena Dawn sits down with Kevin Hines, one of only a handful of known survivors to have jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge and one of the most powerful suicide prevention advocates in the world.
What does it take to survive the unthinkable and spend the rest of your life making sure others never have to?
Kevin Hines proves that healing is not a destination but a daily practice, and that the simple words "I need help now" can make all the difference.
(02:57) Born Into Crisis
● From abject poverty and neglect to a loving adoptive home, Kevin's path to the Hines family was anything but linear
● Why his gut health, brain chemistry, and mental illness were shaped before he could even speak
● The moment at 17 when his mind began to break, and why no one around him knew
(13:11) The Words That Keep Him Here
● The mantra Kevin returns to every time suicidal thoughts arise, and why it works
● Four simple words he has taught thousands of people to say in their darkest moments
● Why sharing your pain with even one person creates real, physiological relief
(21:51) Love, Loss, and the Fight for the Bridge Nets
● The wildly improbable love story that began in a psychiatric ward
● Why it took nearly two decades to get life-saving nets installed at the Golden Gate Bridge
● What to say when you see someone in visible pain and don't know how to start
(28:58) Building a Life That's Worth Staying For
● Kevin's morning and evening routine for regulating his nervous system
● The 23-minute exercise rule backed by University of Georgia research
● Why his doctor reframed medication as a quality-of-life decision, not a weakness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—Get Involved through Action, not just awareness.
Be a part of change with The Big Silence | Host a benefit with The Big Silence: https://thebigsilence.com/blogs/share-your-silence/the-big-silence-fundraiser-hosting-guide
Guest Resources
● Listen to the Hindsights Podcast
If this episode moved you, please consider supporting The Big Silence Foundation and exploring our resources:
Connect with The Big Silence Community
● Order: The Big Silence Memoir audiobook
● Shop The Big Silence Self Love Collection
● Donate to The Big Silence Foundation
● The Big Silence Resource Guide
● Find exclusive offers from our supporters
Show Resources:
Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air!
Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawn
