Ryan has lived and struggled with the depths of depression and mental illness for the last 12 years. He has been brave enough to let his life's story be told in a book called “Descent into Madness – A True Story of Schizophrenia”, written by his mother. He did this to help others in similar circumstances, in spite of the stigma and shame still attached to mental illness in today's society.

Ryan has struggled alone and is a true hero every day. He has had the help of only one or two family members; other family members and "friends" have deserted him.

He has shown by his example that someone can live with a mental illness. Instead of taking the easy way out (suicide), Ryan struggles daily to keep on living and setting examples for others to do likewise! Living alone and lonely with this disease is an example of what a TRUE hero is all about!

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