Michael J O'Grady

Schizophrenia, Princeton & Park Ave. Michael J O'Grady

This is a true autobiographical series of stories of a retired man who first suffered from schizophrenia at fifteen. Winning scholar and athletic awards, he went on to Princeton and graduate school. He spent twenty years of his career working in the mental health field and the rest of his career in various business management roles. The book presents a variety of true disease related episodes that persisted into his sixties. It also includes his work in psychiatric programs that he founded or managed as well as his work with developing state initiatives in mental health care. Furthermore, it goes on to describe his role as a father and a successful businessman. The core themes of this work are that people with serious mental illness can and do lead successful lives. However, stigma is very real and very few of us, so afflicted with this disease, are not touched by stigma. The threat of relapse and even suicide is real, as is job loss and other life limiting events. Hope is a driving force that enabled his achievements.