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<p>A best-selling author who survived a suicide attempt jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge will speak at the F.M. Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre next week as part of a free Luzerne County government-sponsored program.</p><p>The speaker, Kevin Hines, has received awards and commendations for global motivational discussions about his unlikely survival and efforts to change attitudes toward people with mental illnesses, according to his website, <a href="http://www.kevinhinesstory.com/" target="_blank">www.kevinhinesstory.com</a>.</p><p>His memoir, &#8220;Cracked Not Broken, Surviving and Thriving After A Suicide Attempt,&#8221; was released in 2013, and his story was featured in the 2006 documentary film, &#8220;The Bridge.&#8221;</p><p>Tara Vallet, deputy administrator of the Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health and Developmental Services agency, said the program is part of ongoing efforts to saturate the region with suicide prevention information.</p><p>Last year, for the first time since 2009, the number of suicides in Luzerne County dipped below 50. A total of 49 county residents took their own lives in 2016, compared to 67 the previous year.</p><p>As of Wednesday, there were 28 suicides in the county this year to date, the coroner&#8217;s office said.</p><p>The upcoming event also was sparked by a nationwide debate about &#8220;13 Reasons Why,&#8221; a Netflix drama series about the unfolding motivations for a teen&#8217;s suicide, Vallet said.</p><p>Critics fear the series will lead to an increase in teens harming themselves, while supporters believe the show has prompted healthy dialogue that could prevent suicides.</p><p>&#8220;We somehow wanted to respond locally to this because it raised so many questions and concerns,&#8221; Vallet said. &#8220;We want to make sure people are provided with factual information and resources.&#8221;</p><p>Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Kirby, 71 Public Square. Several social service agencies will be on hand to provide literature.</p><p>The county&#8217;s suicide prevention task force will hand out free gun locks. Twenty-six of last year&#8217;s 49 suicides were caused by self-inflicted gunshot wounds, county statistics show.</p><p>Hines will appear on stage at 7 p.m.</p><p>&#8220;He is a phenomenal speaker. His message connects,&#8221; Vallet said.</p><p>The nonprofit Advocacy Alliance, which aims to promote mental well-being, covered the cost for Hines, while the county agency paid for the Kirby Center rental, Vallet said.</p><p>All ages are welcome, although Vallet said young children may be bored by the speech portion.</p><p>&#8220;It definitely will be appealing to youth junior high and up,&#8221; she said. &#8220;If people are worried they don&#8217;t have a baby-sitter, they should bring young children because we don&#8217;t want anyone to miss the opportunity to hear Kevin speak.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Hines </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_hinestoned.jpeg</photo0><caption0>Hines </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Man who survived suicide attempt to speak at free WB event