Craig Survived the Impossible + We Support Him

I remember the day in May 2015, that Craig Lewis told me about what happened at his job, serving as a Mental Health Worker who openly identifies as having lived experience with trauma, and who was specifically educated and professionally trained as a Certified Peer Specialist.

I was shocked, and in disbelief, but I knew something was very wrong. Craig disclosed his account of witnessing his coworker perpetrate innapropriate sexual behavior toward a woman in a locked psychiatric unit who had recently survived rape in her home.  This information evoked visceral disgust, and was unconscionable, but all too real.

Knowing Craig very well, and speaking alongside those of us who do, we can attest to his integrity, and highly ethical nature. Immediately following this occurrence, I watched his life begin to collapse. He became frenzied. He lost veritably everything and suffers immeasurably to this day.

After learning of what occurred, I too was shocked and further witnessed the mounting injustice that followed. I saw it destroy Craig rapidly, at all levels; emotionally, psychologically, economically, socially and even impact his physical health. Despite all efforts to dutifully address this incident of misogyny and abuse, through all proper channels, his employer actively failed to take necessary action, and instead turned the matter against Craig's professional legitimacy. Adding insult to injury on top of vile injustice, Craig was bound in a catch 22. This degradation became rapidly pervasive, wreaking havoc on Craig's life; having witnessed such a traumatic transgression and reprehensible act of misconduct, and then subjected to the grossly negligent and targeted fallout from his refusing to be silent.  This violation was, to my horror, the beginning of further abuse, which Craig directly experienced also.

Craig had explained to me that in mental health organizations throughout the world, there are many thousands of workers, perhaps more than ten thousand, who are specifically informed in their practice via their personal lived experience as survivors, just like him, and uphold a serious, informed code of ethical conduct, with implicit trust, in and amongst these organizations and their communities. Craig impassionedly expressed to me his need to avoid as much damage as possible, to his beloved community of survivors and fellow workers with lived experience whose livelihoods depended on their jobs, due to the actions of very few.

Unfortunately, the moral injury resulting from such a heinous reversal of these tenets which Craig carried passionately and diligently at his job and throughout his everyday life, caused him to implode, and pay an innumerable price for what then took an immense toll on him.

All the worse, as a mandated reporter pursuant to his job description and its legal requirements in reporting abuse, Craig had no choice but to follow through in doing so. He was punished by his employer, who sought to turn a blind eye and instead denigrate Craig for doing what he was legally required to do. From within this institution, he was taken down for standing up. This employer engaged in outrageously nasty tactics, the most frighteningly of which include; secretly appointing the perpetrator of sexual misconduct as his supervisor, after Craig had reported him.

Craig shut down. He was eventually pushed out of his job and derailed from his life's work, as the psychological abuse spiraled into economic abuse, inducing such deep harm as to erode Craig's mental and physical health, his independent business, lose his home, interfere with his relationships personally and professionally, descend into dire poverty, forcibly estranged from his beloved cat Max, and essentially dislocated from his country of origin. All in relative silence.

Despite his characteristically tenacious attempts to live in resilience,  he is suffering; and in a position of severe financial need that, as it is resolved, allows for Craig’s health, true wellness and peace to thrive. He is doing amazing considering what he has been facing and we, his friends, supporters and comrades, we say enough is enough.  It is time we all stand behind our wonderful friend and invaluable radical and tireless contributor to our community who deserves not only for his story to be told and heard, but to receive direct support, and financial relief  by donation and widespread efforts to share this effort on his behalf.

Let's step up for Craig. We need our beautiful, awesome comrade and friend in this world,  so we need to ensure not only that he survives, but that he is fully able to do the kind of radical and best work helping people live better, healthier lives that he is globally known for. Furthermore we have to stand in solidarity and show direct support. This story needs to be told, and for all those who do not know; they need to know now. Craig's ongoing suffering and that of abuse survivors created by institutional and community silence, and via structural violence must end. Please donate toward this effort on behalf of Craig Lewis, and for the good of us all.