Jerome Lawrence of Atlanta told others at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Tuesday night about how signs of paranoid schizophrenia showed up during his senior year of college. After being diagnosed, he took medicine and slowly recovered until he became stable and now encourages others to not let the stigma and fear associated with mental illness stop them from moving forward in life. He now helps others through the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network and displays artwork in galleries, including the High Museum in Atlanta. Lawrence was the honored speaker at the National Alliance on Mental Health Illness Rome candlelight vigil for Mental Illness Awareness Week. After he spoke, candles of truth, healing, understanding, hope, thanksgiving, faith and steadfast love were lit for all to gain courage and understanding.