SAN DIEGO–Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is hosting its annual Executive Luncheon to support mental health awareness on May 30 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, with mental health advocate and documentarian Kevin Hines sharing his story of an unlikely survival and strong will to live.
The noon event, one of two annually held by JFS’s Behavioral Health Committee (BHC) to promote awareness on subjects related to behavioral health, will feature Hines’ story surviving his suicide attempt – a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge at the age of 19. With more than 1,400 suicides occurring at the Golden Gate Bridge since it opened in 1937, Hines is one of only 34 people to survive the fall, and the only one to regain full physical mobility.
Today, Hines travels the globe detailing his diagnosis of bipolar disorder, his life after surviving the jump, and spreading a message of hope, recovery and wellness – making him the only Golden Gate Bridge jump survivor to actively advocate for mental health awareness.
“We are very fortunate at Jewish Family Service to have a dedicated committee of community members who strive to eliminate the stigma of mental illness through education and outreach,” said JFS CEO Michael Hopkins. “Events like our annual luncheon open up the discussion around mental illness and behavioral health and help us implement programs that focus on reducing the impact serious mental illness has on the individual, the family and the community.”
Registered guests of the Executive Luncheon are also invited to a screening of Hines’ acclaimed documentary, “Suicide: The Ripple Effect,” on Monday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. or Tuesday, May 21 at 10 a.m. at The Lot La Jolla. According to Hines, the film is “part of a global mission to help reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts around the world.”
The luncheon will be moderated by County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, and a Special Recognition Award will be presented to Linda Janon, founder of JFS’s BHC. The event is chaired by Kira Finkenberg and Mimi Lee, with Honorary Chair Caryl Lees Witte.
Tickets can be purchased for $85. VIP tickets are also available for $125, with funds helping JFS establish educational and outreach programs for mental illness and health.
To register or for more information, visit jfssd.org/luncheon2019 or contact Dana at (858) 637-3013.
