Craig Hurst: 2005 Courage to Come Back Award Recipient

Shanty Bay, Ontario

Craig Hurst doesn't just survive with a mental illness. He succeeds in all aspects of his life and has become a strong, loving individual because of it. At the age of 25, Craig had it all: a successful business, a career and was starting to build a life. A business trip to Dallas, Texas, changed all that. The trip triggered his first psychotic episode and resulted in his unexpected hospitalization at a provincial psychiatric hospital in Hamilton.

Craig was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder. Although he had entered a new world of medications, treatment and uncertainty, he felt that the best medicine was to get back to work and continue living the life he was accustomed to. Unfortunately, his business partners did not agree and thought it best for everyone if Craig did not return. Even the local grocery store and gas station where he had been a regular customer refused to hire him in fear of what his "unpredictable illness" might bring. Finally, his partners agreed to let Craig return to work at the factory where he had once been the vice president.

Throughout the course of the next few years, Craig lost his friends, his business, and ultimately, his former way of life. It would be several years before Craig was able to feel stability again.

Craig's drive to improve the mental health system began early. During regular visits to the Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital for treatment, Craig quickly recognized that patient education was limited. He helped to develop the first patient-directed education program supported by a provincial psychiatric hospital, helping new lithium candidates understand the long term issues associated with bipolar disorder.

Craig became involved in initiatives that promoted changes to mental health issues at the local, provincial and national levels as President of the London branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), and a board member of the provincial and national boards of the CMHA, where he was active in advocacy, program development and fundraising.

Craig's first hand knowledge of the important role of work in recovery encouraged him to create employment and entrepreneurial opportunity networks across Canada for people recovering from mental illness. His early work in employment led to Craig's involvement with the National Network for Mental Health where he eventually became the Board's vice chair, and where he was the very first recipient of the Lifetime Membership Award. Craig clearly "walks the talk". In recent years, Craig created competitive employment positions for individuals, to work in his own business and in his home. He also created informal support networks for others who were in crisis.

For twenty-four years, Craig has dedicated his energies to improving life for those who have suffered similar experiences to his and provides inspiration and hope that change is indeed possible. His efforts have made demonstrable change on systemic and community levels, and in the lives of the individuals he has touched. Craig wants others to "learn as much as you can and use your experience to enrich the lives of others."