A man who survived a 220-foot fall from the Golden Gate Bridge is now part of a Suicide Prevention Month segment reaching Atlanta television audiences. Kevin Hines, who jumped from the bridge, appeared alongside two other suicide awareness advocates in a special report titled You Can Keep Going, sharing how they overcame dark periods in their lives.
The segment, posted Wednesday by FOX 5 Atlanta, features three advocates describing their personal struggles, with one — Hines — recounting the attempt that nearly ended his life and the rescue that followed. Background reporting from Goalcast notes that Hines is among fewer than 1% of people who have survived a jump from the bridge. The FOX 5 Atlanta segment also includes Dr. Terescah “Tess” Lemon, a licensed professional counselor and metro Atlanta school district counselor, weighing in on depression, warning signs of suicide, and ways to better support people in crisis.
A Bridge That Once Claimed Dozens a Year
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District completed a $224 million stainless-steel suicide deterrent net along the bridge in January 2024, according to Hoodline. The project added a barrier to a structure long considered an infamous suicide spot.
The results have been dramatic. Data published in January showed confirmed suicide jumps from the bridge fell about 73% compared to the 20-year annual average after the net's completion, with bridge officials reporting jumping deaths dropped from an average of 30 per year to 8 in 2024 before reaching zero confirmed jump deaths in zero jump deaths by late 2025. It stands as one of the clearest real-world examples of how a physical barrier can prevent suicide attempts at a single, historically dangerous location.
Georgia's Rising Toll Behind the Segment's Timing
The Atlanta broadcast lands amid troubling local numbers. Georgia recorded about 1,650 suicide deaths in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 14.3 per 100,000 residents, according to CDC data cited by USAFacts — a 26.5% increase in the state's suicide rate over the past two decades. Nationally, 48,824 people died by suicide in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 13.7 per 100,000, marking a 1% decline from 2023 after national suicide deaths peaked above 49,300 that year, per data reported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
There are signs that crisis intervention is making a measurable dent, particularly among younger people. An April study from Harvard Medical School published in JAMA found youth and young adult suicide deaths nationwide were 11% lower than expected between July 2022 and December 2024, preventing nearly 4,400 deaths following the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, according to WABE. States with higher 988 call response capacity saw the steepest drops in youth suicide mortality, the outlet reported.
Why September Carries Extra Weight
The timing of the FOX 5 Atlanta segment places suicide prevention in the spotlight alongside broader mental-health outreach. September often brings campaigns aimed at reducing stigma around seeking help.
Lethal means safety remains a central focus for providers working to reduce suicide risk. Firearms were used in 57% of all U.S. suicide deaths in 2024, making the securing of firearms and medications a key strategy public health officials point to for preventing impulsive attempts.
Dr. Lemon's role in the Atlanta segment reflects that same clinical emphasis, translating national data and crisis frameworks into guidance for families and school communities. Lemon has previously provided expert commentary on trauma and grief response for FOX 5 Atlanta. Her comments in the new segment focus on recognizing depression and the warning signs of suicide, and on practical ways to support someone in crisis.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text at any hour.
