James, 40, Devon
"I was 19 and a successful officer cadet at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst when I first became ill. Within days I had been dumped out of the army and into a psychiatric ward and given high doses of medication. I was given a diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Eventually I was sent home and the dosage was reduced. I managed to get work as a hotel porter before becoming a local fire-fighter and as part of the team I won the Chief Fire Officer's commendation. Living with schizophrenia has been a rocky yet inspiring path. I've met some incredibly brave people, lost a few good friends and yet somehow, I've survived. Now I use my experiences to talk to others about mental health."
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