Iowans encouraged to 'build a support network' at Story County's virtual mental health expo

More than 20 years after he attempted to take his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, Kevin Hines still lives with chronic thoughts of suicide, he said Monday during the virtual Story County Mental Health Expo.

But, he reminded attendees, "Our thoughts don't have to become our actions ... they can simply be our thoughts."

Now a professional speaker and filmmaker, Hines said he is grateful for "every waking moment" he gets to "walk this green earth." In the moments when he's experiencing suicidal ideation, Hines said he turns to his wife, Margaret, for support. Together, they founded the Hines Foundation, a mental health advocacy organization.

"When you're doing well, you have to build a support network around you so that you have ... the right people to tell your truth to," Hines said.

Related: Suicide survivor Kevin Hines to deliver the keynote address at Story County's Mental Health Expo

Dozens of agencies that could be part of that network were represented at the event Monday. The various organizations provide treatment, medical care, crisis care and community-based services. Visit bit.ly/3o37WmZ to view the full resource guide.

The event was sponsored by the Iowa State University Committee on Lectures, the Ames Police Foundation and Mary Greeley Medical Center.

During a Q&A following his keynote speech, Hines answered questions about men's mental health, therapy and how school employees can support students. Geri Derner, a member of the expo's organizing committee, delivered the questions.

"The question talks about, in an environment of a group of men, like in a fraternity, how do you encourage each other to open up when guys are traditionally tending to avoid discussing when they need help or have struggles?" Derner said.

Hines suggested that college fraternities host events where men "talk about what they are going through and be bold about it."

"Take that team-fraternity mentality ... and use it for good," Hines said.

Men are less likely to receive mental health treatment than women, according to 2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also shows white men seek therapy at higher rates than Black and Hispanic men.

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Other audience members asked about what makes a good therapist and for tips on finding the right therapist.

"The good therapists I had listened intently — not to respond, but to understand," Hines said. "They treated me like a person first and a patient second."

Hines said people should "never settle for a therapist," just like they should never settle for a romantic partner.

"If your first instinct when you meet them is that they're negative or resentful ... get out of that room and go find somebody else," Hines said.

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For suicidal people seeking treatment, experts say to look for a therapist who specializes in evidence-based suicide prevention techniques, like dialectical behavior therapy or collaborative assessment and management of suicidality.

Derner said one of the audience members asked if there is "anything that schools, in particular, or society, in general, could do that would be more helpful for the potential helper" of someone in crisis.

"I think (organizations like) the National Council for Mental Wellbeing are really important because they're actually guiding the helper to learn ... the struggles and the issues that people are having, so they're more in tune to act on it," Hines said. "But in order for that to work, you have to actually take those courses and put them into the school and make them a part of the curriculum."

The virtual Story County Mental Health Expo will be available at StoryCountyMHExpo.com/virtual-expo-2020 until Oct. 4. Here's how to connect with some of the listed central Iowa agencies:

Isabella Rosario is a public safety reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached by email at irosario@gannett.com or on Twitter at @irosarioc.

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