FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Weaver, Melony Ritter
(501) 760.6410 office
press@np.edu
February 26, 2016
NPC HOSTS CRACKED, NOT BROKEN SUICIDE PREVENTION CONFERENCE
Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) will host the Cracked, Not Broken Suicide Prevention Conference with The Garland County Suicide Prevention Coalition, the United Way of Garland County and the Arkansas Department of Health on March 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Frederick M. Dierks Center for Nursing and Health Sciences.
The Garland County Suicide Prevention Coalition organized this event in an effort to help lower Garland County’s high rate of suicides. Garland County was rated the third highest in the state for suicides in 2014. Susie Reece, Chair of the Garland County Suicide Prevention Coalition said, “Garland County has one of the highest suicide rates in the state and we know the non-approach that’s been used in the past is not addressing this growing concern. Our community is determined to lower our suicide rates by directly engaging and educating the people this problem affects. And the hard truth is, this problem affects us all.”
Kevin Hines is a mental health advocate, award-winning global speaker, and bestselling
author who reaches audiences with his story of an unlikely survival and his strong
will to live. Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 19 years of
age, he attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. He is one
of only 34 to survive the fall, and the only one to regain full physical mobility.
He is the only Golden Gate Bridge jump survivor who is actively spreading the message
of living mentally healthy. The fall would break his body, but not his spirit. Today,
Kevin is an author and a documentary filmmaker, focusing on behavioral health media.
He is also one of the most respected and admired voices of lived experience. Kevin’s
story is a remarkable testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder
for us to love the life we have.www.kevinhinesstory.com
A panel of mental health professionals will be on hand to answer questions. Panelists include Cindy Hamilton with One Wing Christ-centered Counseling, Lenora Erickson with Therapeutic Family Services, David Smith with Levi Hospital, Dr. Alex Marshall with the Department of Health Behavior and Education at UAMS, and SGM Rex Allen Surrette with the National Guard Bureau. The schedule includes afternoon breakout sessions where the public can learn simple and useful suicide prevention skills. The event will also include a public participatory art exhibition and contest and wellness activities. Two local food trucks will be available during the lunch hours, including Roxy’s Twisted Sandwiches and The Wunderbus.
Event Contact: Susie Reece 501-249-9758 (mobile) or reecesusie@ymail.com Garland County Suicide Prevention Coalition Chair
