“The Impact of Listening”
Monday, September 17, 2018
7:00 PM, All Saints Hall, Basement of Carroll Commons
Kevin Berthia is a grateful suicide survivor and a suicide prevention advocate. Kevin was born with a genetic major depressive disorder that he inherited from his biological mother. In 2005 at the age of 22, Kevin attempted to take his own life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. After jumping the railing, he stood on a 4 inch narrow cord about 22 feet in the air. For 96 minutes, with nothing to stop him from falling except a listening ear, Kevin spoke with a first responder who eventually talked him back over the railing.
In May of 2013, 8 years after his suicide attempt at the Golden Gate Bridge, Kevin was invited by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to present The Life Savers Award to the officer who talked him back to safety. Kevin spoke publicly for the first time about the events that led up to that day March 11, 2005. Since, his story of HOPE has been featured by multiple media outlets including Nightly News with Brian Williams, ABC Fusion, The Steve Harvey Show, Men’s Health Magazine and People Magazine.
