Some people are lucky enough to survive despite incredible odds. This is true for Kevin Hines, a man who attempted to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

He grew up with a rough childhood, moving constantly from house to house. As a teenager, he began to have some serious mental health issues, and finally as a young adult, decided enough was enough.

He wrote his suicide note at age 19. Kevin rode the bus over to the bridge, and was stopped by a woman who asked him to take her picture. He took the picture for her, and as she walked away, he thought to himself, “nobody cares.”

He continued to walked, and soon propelled himself over the ledge. “The millisecond my hands left the rail, it was an instant regret,” said Hines. He fell 75 miles per hour for 25 stories, only to be rescued by the Coast Guard when he reached the water. He is one of the less than 1% of people who survived the jump.

He was taken to the hospital, where he saw his father. “I’m so sorry, Dad,” he told him.

His father replied, “No, Kevin, I’m sorry.” He told his son months later that every time the phone rings, his first question is, “Is Kevin alive?”

Kevin was more than surprised to find he had that sort of impact on anyone.

Hines now tells his story to spread hope as a mental health advocate and motivational speaker. “It’s okay to not be okay. It’s not okay not to ask someone to back you up… Recovery happens. I’m living proof,” said Hines.

He is currently working on a film called Suicide: The Ripple Effect, which is meant to bring attention and awareness to the reality of suicide.

Suicide is a scary reality, and one most people would rather not face. So many push it aside and feel like it’s just someone else’s problem.

However, the sad truth is that over 40,000 Americans die of suicide every year, and it is the tenth leading cause of death in the US. Over one million attempts are made annually, and on average, an American dies every 12.95 minutes from this cause.

The thing that most suicidal people struggle to realize is that they are loved, so incredibly much. It may not feel like it, but they truly are. All one needs to do is reach out and ask for help. That is extremely difficult to do, but it’s something that in the end is well worth it.

Most people who attempt suicide (for example, jumping off of a bridge) regret it immediately after they have taken their action of choice. Survivors oftentimes look back on their decision to try and kill themselves and have a sudden realization that everything was okay and that they were genuinely loved and cared for; they just couldn’t see it.

If you or someone you love is considering suicide, please take a moment to realize that you are loved and appreciated, even if you don’t feel like it. Please, reach out for help. Ask someone you love and trust to help you. I promise you, somebody believes in you. I believe in you. You are stronger than you think you are, and you will get through this.

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1 (800) 273-8255

Languages: Spanish and English

Open 24/7

If you would like to watch Buzzfeed’s video about Kevin yourself, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcSUs9iZv-g