Retired California Highway Patrol officer and author Kevin Briggs will be the keynote speaker at the Aug. 12 Zero Suicide St. Johns County Summit in St. Augustine. The event, organized by LSF Health Systems, is open to the public and will feature state and community leaders, behavioral health professionals, educators, advocates and individuals with lived experience discussing solutions to help advance local suicide prevention efforts.
The Zero Suicide model is a proven framework that works to eliminate suicide by transforming organizational practices, staff training and safety protocols. Developed by clinical experts at the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, the model shifts the focus from reactive treatment to a proactive, systemic approach.
In 20 years patrolling San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Briggs used empathy, active listening and his calm presence to dissuade hundreds of potential suicide victims from taking their own lives. He co-authored a memoir detailing his experiences, “Guardian of the Golden Gate: Protecting the Line Between Hope and Despair.” He’s expected to bring a unique perspective to the summit, said Dr. Christine Cauffield, CEO of LSF Health Systems.
“Suicide rates in St. Johns County have risen sharply during the last three years, even while rates have fallen across Florida and the U.S.,” Cauffield said. “We’re optimistic about exploring proven methods to address the disturbing trend.”
Briggs will be one of the main speakers during the Aug. 12 event, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Oceanfront, 300 A1A Beach Blvd.
To register to attend the event, go to LSFHealthSystems.org/zero-suicide-stjohns.
