David Covington, David Guth, Carol Graham, Phyllis Parsons, Kevin Hines, General Mark Graham (Ret.) and Cheryl Sharp.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA APRIL 6, 2013:
For the 43rd National Council of Behavioral Healthcare Conference, the suicide prevention panel featuried the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award winners General Mark Graham (Ret.) and his wife, Carol Graham as well as 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Kevin Hines, and speaker Cheryl Sharp. The panel was moderated by David Covington, VP of Magellan Health.
The Grahams shared their heartbreaking story of losing two sons in less than a year: one to suicide, the other who was serving in Iraq. Since, the Grahams have dedicated their lives to mental health awareness, establishing scholarship funds at Universities in their sons' names as well as establishing the Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Organization in Colorado.
The Grahams were joined by Kevin Hines and Cheryl Sharp. Hines, whose memoir Cracked, Not Broken will be released on July 16 of this year-- who was 19 years old when he decided to take his own life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Hines survived his attempt-- only one of 33 to do so-- and the only survivor who continues to work to spread mental health awareness.
Audience members erupted into repeated standing ovations for the panelists who shared their incredible stories of survival, strength and the importance of mental health.
