This Man Saved 200+ From Suicide | Kevin Briggs The Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge | Alison Answers Podcast

This man talked 200+ people back from the edge—and he never once said he "saved" them.

Kevin Briggs isn't your typical hero. The "Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge" spent 23 years as a California Highway Patrol sergeant kneeling beside strangers who'd lost all hope, no formal training at first—just raw humanity and a philosophy that changed everything: Listen to understand, not to fix.

His record? 99%+ success rate. FBI-trained crisis negotiator. TED Talk speaker. Author. Global mental health advocate. 

This conversation will rewire how you think about suicide, mental health, and what it actually takes to save a life.

Alison sits down with Kevin after losing her own husband to suicide. Two people who've lived the devastation and refuse to let it win.

Together they pull back the curtain on:

-Kevin's battlefield resume: Survived testicular cancer at 20 (37 of 45 lymph nodes cancerous), childhood sexual abuse, three heart surgeries, motorcycle crashes, PTSD nightmares, and family lost to suicide. 

-The suicide stats that'll gut you

-What actually works on the bridge

-Kevin Berthia's story:
22-year-old adopted man. Mental illness. Baby born premature with $250K hospital bill. Lost both jobs. Felt like a total failure. Jumped over the rail before Kevin could stop him but Kevin YELLED and Kevin grabbed the rail mid-air, landed on a tiny pipe 220 feet up.

-Jason Garber's story:
Highly intelligent. Well-versed in religion, philosophy, sports. No substance abuse. Despite Kevin's best efforts, Jason jumped.

-The false peace that kills

-Therapy truth bombs:
Kevin went to therapy with his son who had suicidal thoughts. The therapist WASN'T TRAINED in suicide assessment. Not all mental health professionals are qualified.

-Why intelligent minds break harder:
Alison and Kevin unpack why brilliant people are at higher suicide risk. 

-Alison's redemption mission:
Lost her husband to suicide. Transformed that soul-crushing loss into a lifeline for others.

-Post-traumatic GROWTH


-Faith that heals

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🎧 Watch now. This will save lives 👆
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📤 Send this to someone who needs to hear it #GuardianOfHope #ListenToUnderstand #SuicideIsPreventable

CONNECT WITH KEVIN BRIGGS:
Website: https://www.pivotal-points.com
Book: Guardian of the Golden Gate (2015)
TED Talk: "The Bridge Between Suicide and Life" (2014)
LinkedIn: Kevin Briggs - Pivotal Points

Connect with Alison:

• Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling
• Website: LagerCounseling.com
• YouTube: Alison Answers
• Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac
• Purchase Alison’s book: “The Wake Up Call”
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⚠️ Crisis Resources:
Lager Counseling Services
Call: 516-221-2123
Text: (914) 363-0381
Wantagh: 3408 Park Ave. Wantagh, NY 11793

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7, free, confidential)
Call or text 988 | Visit 988lifeline.org