TurningPointCT.org was developed by young people in Connecticut who are in recovery from mental health and substance use issues. While we’re not clinicians, we know what it’s like to feel alone, stressed, worried, sad, and angry. We’ve lived through the ups and downs of self-harm, drugs and alcohol, and the struggle to find help. Fortunately, we found what worked for us. Our goal is to provide information and support to help you choose your path so that you don’t have to struggle the way we did.
So, welcome to TurningPointCT.org—guiding your search for mental wellness. Our mission is to empower teens and young adults in their search for emotional and mental health. Our website will help you understand your options and learn how to navigate the behavioral health system:
- We help you learn about treatment models, local community supports, and state and national resources.
- We connect you with other teens and young adults who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, self-harm, thoughts of suicide, addiction, mood swings, eating disorders, substance abuse, or any form of emotional distress or mental illness.
Meet The Team
Dez Chapman (He/They), Project Coordinator
Dez joined TurningPointCT as the project assistant in October 2022 and shifted into the project coordinator position in May 2023.
Dez is part of the gender expansive (transgender), BIPOC, neurodivergent and spiritual communities. He is someone who navigates the struggles of gender dysphoria, the recovery components of complex PTSD, sensory difficulties of Autism, and systematic stigmas/stereotypes. As an advocate, Dez is passionate about ending the stigma that surrounds mental health and culture. He is also passionate about helping people feel comfortable with themselves and their uniqueness.
Dez recently graduated college with a BA in General Psychology with a minor in Sociology at Bay Path University ’23. Professionally, he hopes to become a founding theorist of Parapsychology and a book publisher surrounding the decolonization of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual in psychology. Outside of psychology, Dez is working towards the publication of his poetry/art book in the near future.
Most of Dez’s experience comes from the work he did in middle and high school at CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering. There, he developed a hands-on understanding of robot programming, computer science, web development, art/photography, journalism, music and digital engineering. He hopes to use his prior knowledge and experiences to bring new ideas to TuringPoint CT.
Dez is a unique, old soul who really enjoys researching, developing theories, playing his guitar/piano and creating art/poetry while listening to music. He listens to music of different languages and genres, as he believes music is universal and speaks to the emotions of the soul. When things get hard, he blindfolds himself or closes his eyes to play his instruments and create art to let out emotions as a method of coping. During any moments of spark, he writes poetry.
Dez is also a psychic medium and often spends his time sharpening his gifts through mindful practices. He loves being in nature; specifically near streams of water surrounded by trees and big rocks. He finds it refreshing to connect with the earth and often finds himself helping injured animals.
Read more about Dez’s lived experience with mental health: Dez’s Story About His Struggles
Contact: turningpointct@positivedirections.org
Sarah Edwards (She/Her), Project Associate
As a mental health advocate and neurodivergent, Sarah hopes to merge personal experience and artistic training to bring awareness to many mental and physical conditions.
Sarah is currently in recovery for Harm Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (hOCD), Responsibility Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (rOCD) and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD). Sarah also is learning to coexist with severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and panic attacks and has made anxiety and OCD the center of her advocacy.
She also hopes to bring awareness to physical needs and handicaps. Sarah has had a lifelong battle with autoimmune disorders, minor cerebral palsy leading to slight paralysis and hopes to expand her work into the disability community in the future. She is excited to bring these trials and learnings to mentor others and create impactful work for TurningPointCT!
Sarah graduated a year early from high school, excited to explore the world. She studied at various institutions including; Florence University of the Arts in Italy, The School of Visual Arts in New York for Art, as well as Penn State University in the Letters, Arts and Sciences program.
Professionally, Sarah is an Art Director in the health and wellness sector of advertising, a published author, and an award winning screenwriter, art director and photographer. Currently, she is building her own company for mental health awareness, creativity and strengthening faith with her significant other. This includes continually publishing workbooks, classes, articles and a podcast to spark conversation around taboo and under discussed topics.
Sarah has a serious love for all things chocolate, caffeine and score music. You can usually find her tucked away in a bookstore. Scribbling random ideas on napkins, or writing with (you guessed it) coffee and headphones.
Contact: turningpointct@positivedirections.org
Quinn Atlas Jannetty (They/Them), Peer Support Specialist
Quinn is a queer, trans non-binary researcher with a background in psychological science and criminology. Before coming to TurningPointCT, Quinn worked as a direct care provider in the mental health and addiction field during which they earned their certification in Crisis Prevention and Intervention. Quinn also spent two semesters interning for CT’s Judicial Branch in CSSD’s Multicultural Affairs Division. It was in these roles that they deepened their desire to educate folks about mental health, addiction, trauma stewardship, cultural responsiveness, identity, and marginalization.
In 2020, Quinn began serving as the Advocacy Director for The Reflection Zone in Watertown, CT. They wrote and facilitated workshops about LGBTQ+ identities and collaborated with the team to plan family friendly events for their community to enjoy. Quinn is passionate about creating and holding space for the narratives of marginalized people and facilitating conversations with folks about identity, bias, power, and community care. They are an ardent believer in challenging systems rooted in oppression through education, sharing resources, and creating environments conducive to social change.
In their spare time, Quinn enjoys furthering their studies of astrology (they’re a Leo sun, Gemini moon, and Scorpio rising) and doing card readings for friends and family. Most weekends, you can find Quinn out hiking and searching for new plants and fungi with their partner. When they’re not on the trails, Quinn is usually improvising on the piano, curled up with a book, or in the kitchen measuring spices with their heart and, of course, waiting on the potatoes.
Contact: turningpointct@positivedirections.org
Therell Mayes (He/Him), Social Media Lead
Therell joined TurningPointCT as their Social Media Assistant in September 2021. He is a young adult who wants to help other young adults who are struggling with mental health like he has. Therell is a student at Norwalk Community College, majoring in Liberal Arts & Science. His experience with social media began as a hobby in middle school. Since then, he has learned how to use various social media platforms to promote his photography, music, and YouTube videos. Therell loves to write screenplays, poetry, and lyrics as well as record music, photograph nature, and exercise.
Read more about Therell’s lived experience with mental health: Therell’s Story of Overcoming Anxiety and Depression Using Coping Skills
Contact: turningpointct@positivedirections.org
Get In Contact
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Contact: turningpointct@positivedirections.org
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Disclaimer
TurningPointCT.org is based at Positive Directions, The Center for Prevention and Counseling, and funded by Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The project is managed by and in consultation with young people in recovery from around Connecticut.
TurningPointCT.org does not provide treatment services, or referrals to clinicians or treatment facilities. We do not have clinicians available on-hand. If you need help right away, dial 2-1-1, + option 1 for a Crisis Counselor in Connecticut, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988) or the Crisis Text Line (741741). (You can find the numbers for these at the top of every page of the website). Otherwise, please refer to our Resources page and Resource Map to find lists of programs near you.
Please report any problems with the website and give us feedback at turningpointct@positivedirections.org.
