AN American man who survived a suicide attempt by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has teamed up with a Southside band in a bid to help tackle the crisis in this country.
Kevin Hines is only one of 34 people who have survived the fall from the iconic structure since its construction in 1937.
Thousands of people have ended their lives by jumping off the bridge but since his suicide attempt when he was 19-years-old, Kevin has become one of the most prominent suicide awareness and prevention activists in the US.
Through presentations and his memoir
‘Cracked, Not Broken’, Kevin’s message of striving to live
“mentally well
? in the face of mental illness has reached and inspired millions.
One of those was Mark Leddy, lead singer of the Southside band
‘Friends of Emmet’.
Mark had just finished writing the instrumentals for a new song when he saw the documentary The Bridge.
The film was how Mark first learned about Kevin, his struggles with mental illness, and his incredible story of survival.
The Dublin rocker immediately sat down to write the lyrics for
‘Coming Apart’, a tribute to Kevin and the lead track on Friends of Emmet’s’ latest album
‘State of Mind’.
Since then, Kevin and Mark have become good friends. They both work to help prevent suicide using their own unique talents and experiences.
In his widely read blog, Kevin recalls that Mark once told him how he saved a friend from suicide.
“Just like the song
‘Coming Apart’ on FOE’s album, Mark knew it was time for a life to be saved,
? Kevin writes.
“Mark made a comment to me that,
‘it’s a miracle Kevin that you’re sitting here today; it was drawn out by a hand of god’.
“Keith Geraghty, the band’s bassist agreed.
“He says:
‘This record (State of Mind) was a testament to the potential that was in us all along.
“
‘There was something very powerful there. We have an opportunity to do some good, how extensive that is we have no idea but we’re here.’
“Keith feels that if the band can prevent even one family from having to go through the pain of suicide, then that is their purpose.
“Friends of Emmet were a huge part of the YANA (You Are Never Alone) anti-bullying and prevention campaign in 2013.
“Keith noted that suicides in Ireland, among teenage men that overuse alcohol, is very prevalent.
“‘Young males look up to bands in Ireland, and if the bands say it’s not cool, young men will listen to the message and hopefully stay alive,’ Keith told me.
“No one is alone, and through music we can reach young people around the world in seconds, downloaded straight to their ear buds.
“The goal is to get this issue out into the open. Open to a place where no-one is not ashamed to say I have depression and suicidal thoughts, but I am treating them.
?
Listen to
‘Coming Apart’ and other songs online at www.friendsofemmet. com and follow the band on Twitter @FriendsOfEmmet.