Introducing the CT Support Group project
- qjannetty
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
An online platform for youth mental health
We’re proud to announce the rebranding and expansion of our TurningPointCT project, now known as the CT Support Group! After 10 years of providing almost 400,000 young people throughout CT with an online platform to share their advice, personal experiences, and resources related to mental health, the project has evolved in response to what youth and young adults have told us they want today.
We're grateful to our long-term funders, DMHAS Young Adult Services and the CT STAY STRONG project at Advanced Behavioral Health, and our new funder, the Westport Young Women's League, for supporting this evolution and helping us spread the word!
What makes the project unique?
Thanks to our DMHAS funding, the CT Support Group recently launched a Discord Server where young people in CT can get connections to resources and supports around the state, build their community, and even directly access peer support. (Discord is a free, popular platform for young people today, allowing text, voice, and video chat.)
The CT Support Group project also offers trained peer support--both virtually and in-person--to young folks statewide. Our project manager, Quinn Jannetty, can provide peer support around mental health, substance misuse, self discovery, and more for free, to teens and young adults--and we're planning to expand that service! Typically, mental health peer support is only available to adults who are clients of state-funded programs, so this is a wonderful asset for youth who are looking to connect with folks like them.
We are also updating the project website as well as the Discord to serve as a clearinghouse of people and support groups throughout the state that provide trained peer support.
What is peer support, anyway?
If you've ever experienced a breakup, struggled in your role as a parent, awaited news about your health, or cared for an aging parent, you understand the difference between talking about it with someone who has had a similar experience versus a sympathetic listener. That's what makes peer support unique. Peer support is rooted in the sharing of lived experiences that allow people to connect with and support one another.
Peer support is collaborative and mutual. All parties are learning and growing alongside each other.
Peer support is rooted curiosity, consent, and choice. Supporters frequently check in with participants before asking questions or offering ideas and resources.
Peer support is non-hierarchical. One person is not "more recovered" or "more healed" than another.
Peer support is about conversation and moving towards self defined goals. Participants define their goals and peer supporters offer connection and support as they move towards those goals.
Why is peer support important?
Peer support is important for so many reasons. It is a source of validation and understanding from someone who "gets it". Having that shared lived experience is important--especially for young people who are dealing with isolation and disconnection.
Peer support improves mental health and recovery outcomes for participants. SAMHSA has a plethora of literature demonstrating the effectiveness of peer support. Peer supporters are trained to provide relevant and timely resources to participants and are equipped with a variety of tools and skills for supporting folks on their recovery journeys.
If you or someone you know is a young person in Connecticut interested in talking to a peer, reach out to Quinn at qjannetty@positivedirections.org. Stay tuned for updates about the CT Support Group project and for more information about peer support!
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