Highlights of This Episode:
- Why it’s difficult for first responders to get all the training they need in the area of suicide prevention
- Why, when people tell him he has saved lives, Kevin doesn’t look at it like that
- How his work on the bridge changed him – and how it took a toll
- Why compartmentalizing different aspects of your life can work for only so long
- What the Quality of Life Triad is and why self-care is at the top
- Why many people are so reluctant to seek help
- How the RELEASE model — recognize, engage, listen, empathize, accept, support, and encourage — works
- How to listen to people in distress without judging them
“We try our best. We learn from our mistakes. We have that self-compassion. We move on.” –Kevin Briggs (Click to share – thanks!)
About Kevin Briggs:
For about 20 years during his time as a California Highway Patrol officer, Sergeant Kevin Briggs showed up to work every day not knowing whether it was going to be a day that he encouraged someone not to commit suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Because of his work, more than 200 people chose to start a new life instead of ending the one they had and Kevin was nicknamed “the Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge.”
After his retirement, Kevin continued his service by becoming an international presenter on the subjects of crisis management, suicide prevention, and leadership skills. His story and experiences have been featured in The New Yorker, Men’s Health, People magazine, and USA Today, in many other magazines and newspapers across the world, and in radio interviews. He also gave a TED Talk in Vancouver in March, 2014. His autobiography, Guardian of the Golden Gate, is scheduled for release in the fall.
Through his organization, Pivotal Points, Kevin is mapping a movement as he speaks publicly about his encounters with people in crisis, as well as about his personal mental health struggles while serving in the Army, as a police officer, as a cancer survivor, as a family member and father, and as a leader and co-worker. Kevin spends his time speaking at trainings and conferences, consulting with and advising major corporations, and speaking about mental health issues at various consumer and advocacy events.
Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Thanks for Listening!
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