He was ready to give up — until a 92-minute talk with a patrol officer on the bridge saved his life

Trigger Warning: The following story deals with themes of mental health struggles and grief. 

Mental health struggles were once a silent battle—something people rarely talked about, let alone sought help for. While conversations around it have now helped break the long-standing stigmas, many still suffer in silence. Unfortunately, Kevin Berthia (@kevinberthiafoundation on Instagram) was one of them. In 2005, overwhelmed by the debt after his premature daughter's birth, he wanted to end his life. Standing on the edge of the Golden Gate Bridge, Berthia spent 92 minutes talking to a highway patrol officer—a heartfelt conversation that saved him. Today, as a mental health advocate, he shares his story to remind people that hope exists. 

"I had never spoken to anybody about how I felt, and I never accepted I had depression. Where I come from – Oakland, California – reputation is everything, so I convinced everyone I was OK. But I was tired, and I couldn’t do it anymore," Berthia shared with The Guardian. Before March 11, 2005, Berthia had never been to the Golden Gate Bridge. Unsure of the way, he even had to ask for directions. After parking his vehicle, Berthia walked towards the bridge, certain of his decision. But just in time, a voice stopped him. "Hey, wait a minute!" said Sergeant Kevin Briggs, a California Highway Patrol officer. "We talked for 92 minutes about everything that I was dealing with—My daughter and her first birthday the next month. And you (Briggs) made me see that if nothing else, I need to live for her," Berthia recalled with National Public Radio. 

Motivated by the conversation, Berthia instantly found a reason to live—at least for his daughter. He immediately raised his arms, allowing Briggs and another officer to pull him back over the railings before rushing him to the San Francisco General Hospital. After that day, Berthia retreated into silence, never talking about the incident again. But everything changed when he saw a familiar picture on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle.

"The first time I faced the picture was in May 2013, when I was asked to present an award to Officer Briggs at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s lifesavers dinner in New York. That was the first time I had looked him in the eye – on the bridge I had my head down. At that dinner, I saw the impact of the photograph on everyone in the room and realized my story could help people," he revealed. Although Berthia's life was not picture-perfect as the then-media had portrayed, after that night, he genuinely started feeling better. He said Officer Briggs saved his life twice.

Notably, at present, Berthia and retired Officer Briggs travel the country as advocates, sharing their powerful journey of resilience. The Kevin Berthia Foundation’s official Instagram page even featured the iconic photo of Berthia and Officer Briggs—the moment that changed the former's life forever. Reacting to the post, @christinagrace commented, "I remember being 18 years old and hearing your story. So glad that you are still here. Thank you for all you do to support those who struggle." Similarly, @fionarobertson-alford shared, "Just seeing this post on Instagram for the first time. I am so happy and grateful that you are still here and able to help others. God Bless you and your partner for being at the right place at the right time."