On Wednesday, October 26, Kevin Hines will be speaking to thousands of Plymouth Community School Corporation (PCSC) students.
He will first be visiting Riverside Intermediate School (5th – 6th grades) from 8:20 a.m. to 9:20 a.m., Lincoln Junior High School (7th – 8th grades) from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., and his last stop will be at Plymouth High School from 1:45 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.
Hines is a suicide attempt survivor. In September 2000, he jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, a method of suicide attempt that has resulted in death for most of the 2,000 people who have made that jump since the bridge was built. Hines survived and is now sharing his story, fostering a critical bridge of hope between life and death for people caught in the pain of wanting to take their life, who may be living with a mental illness, just undergoing difficult circumstances who want a quick way out.
His message is about helping people who struggle with many different problems and letting them know that suicide is not the answer.
Ted Brown, PCSC’s Director of Safety and Security was the instrumental in arranging Hines to speak at our school corporation. Suicide prevention is a subject that he is professionally and personally committed to.
After dealing with two recent deaths, one last school year and another this year, Plymouth Community School Corporation is shining the light brighter on the subject that help is available for every staff member and every student. The subject is difficult for many people to talk about, but we want our students to know will are here for them, we care, and this is a subject we need and want to address.
Plymouth High School Principal Jim Condon said, “It is very important that we recognize that young people today are faced with more and more challenges, many of which we never faced as youngsters. It is critical that our students and staff know that they do not have to face all challenges alone and on their own. Support is in place and available.”
Aimee Portteus, Plymouth High School’s Director of Guidance said, “We feel this is extremely important. We are asking that our community be purposeful in thinking about what we’re thinking about. Do we have coping skills? Do we have protective factors? Do we build resiliency in ourselves and those around us? Do we have HOPE?”
PCSC will have Plymouth High School guidance counselors and Bowen Center counselors on hand after each presentation for students who may need to talk with someone after or during the presentation.
After the presentation is over at the high school, students will be dismissed to their assigned homeroom class where they will remain until the end of the school day. Teachers will be holding open class discussions about Hines’ presentation, listening to students’ stories, and gaining feedback to pass along to administrators.
Condon, along with Lincoln Junior High School Principal Reid Gault and Riverside Intermediate School Principal Jeni Hirschy all said this is the first time they have ever had a suicide attempt survivor speak to the students at their respective schools.
Gault, said., “I feel that with all the pressures that adolescents face these days from parents, media, schools, and peers that such an opportunity will be beneficial for all of our students. It is our job as educators of young people to help them be healthy mentally, physically, and socially.”
Hirschy said, “The recent tragedies have impacted our community. I think having a school-wide presentation about this subject is very valuable resource, that will help widen the door for communication. I also think this is a community issue, not just a school issue.”
For more information about Kevin Hines please visit the following website:http://www.kevinhinesstory.com/.
