PD Blog: Youth Reflection, Cannabis Speaker Series, Red Ribbon Week, National Drug Takeback Day & more
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- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
Positive Directions has great updates to share! In this blog post:
"From Struggle to Strength": a high school senior reflects
Virtual Cannabis Speaker Series starts Monday!
Red Ribbon Week
National Drug Takeback Day
CT Support Group Discord Halloween Movie Watch Party!
We're Hiring!
NAMI CT Educational Conference
Youth Voice: Mental Illness Awareness Week reflection
From Struggle to Strength: Holding Onto Progress in a New School Year, by Rylie Peterson, Prevention Intern & PTECH senior
While the new school year is underway, many of us are still adjusting to new routines and responsibilities—an experience that can bring unexpected challenges. The transition from the calm of summer to the demands of a new academic year isn’t always easy, and for those navigating mental health struggles, it can feel especially heavy.
My own journey with mental health began in middle school, when I first experienced anxiety attacks. At the time, the idea of seeking help felt daunting, and I avoided it. But as the difficulties continued, I realized that I couldn’t manage on my own. By eighth grade, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression—ironically, the same challenges that initially pushed me away from therapy eventually brought me back. In ninth grade, I began treatment through therapy and medication, and over time, I started to make real progress. Now, as a senior, I don’t attend therapy as frequently—not because everything is perfect, but because I’ve developed tools that help me navigate difficult moments more independently.
When I began writing this, I hadn’t fully grasped the intensity of senior year. Summer often brings a sense of relief—a feeling that things might be different when school starts again. And in the first few weeks, there’s usually a sense of optimism. But as the reality of responsibilities sets in, the pressure can build quickly. For me, this means juggling college applications, demanding classes, heavy workloads, and extracurriculars that consume most of my time.
Within a few weeks, I found myself overwhelmed—facing a wave of depression I hadn’t felt in months. It’s been a difficult reminder that healing isn’t linear. Even after meaningful progress, setbacks can and do happen. But I’ve learned to lean on the coping strategies that continue to support me: taking walks, journaling, listening to music, practicing mindfulness, and reaching out to those I trust. These habits don’t fix everything, but they help me stay grounded.
I may not feel entirely “okay” right now—but I know I’ve come a long way. Progress isn’t always obvious in the moment, but it’s still happening. And that’s worth holding onto. I’ve learned the hard way that you can’t always face these challenges on your own—and I would never wish that struggle on anyone. I strongly encourage everyone to take advantage of the many resources available right in our community. Within the Norwalk schools, there are counselors from the Kids in Crisis TeenTalk program, from Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center, and through the School-Based Health Centers—all free of charge. And beyond school, there’s the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the 741741 Crisis Text Line, which are available 24/7. You’re never alone in this—help is here, and it’s okay to reach for it.
Prevention Department News
Cannabis Speaker Series Starts Monday with Dr. Joe Feuerstein
Join us for the first event in our regional speaker series focused on cannabis & youth, organized through our Mid-Fairfield Youth Cannabis Prevention Project.
Dr. Feuerstein, the President of the Fairfield County Medical Association, will kick off the series with "The Cannabis Conversation: Balancing Adult Use, Youth Risk, and Family Impact." Join us online on October 20th at 7pm.
Download the flyer for the 5-part speaker series here:
National Red Ribbon Week
The last week of October is Red Ribbon Week--an annual awareness week encouraging parents of young children to start talking early and often about substances. With increasing numbers of poison control calls due to kids ingesting cannabis from edibles, you can't start too early! Through our local prevention coalitions, we'll be providing activities for families with young children. In Westport, look for our activity placemats at participating restaurants and at the annual Costume Parade, and in Norwalk, our TNP Teens will be facilitating an interactive event for children where we will also provide parents with handbooks and safe storage items, such as lockbags and liquor stickers.
Download the Westport RRW placemat here to use to spark conversation with young children around trusted adults, coping skills, healthy behaviors, and taking care of your brain and body:
National Drug Takeback Day
National Drug Takeback Day is coming up on Saturday, October 25th, from 10am-2pm! Twice a year, this is an opportunity to clean out your medicine cabinet to get rid of unneeded or expired medications. Keeping medications around creates a risk of experimentation and of accidental or purposeful overdose, so we encourage everyone to safely dispose of anything you no longer need--and to keep your medications locked up year-round!
Safe disposal means keeping meds out of our water supply, so no flushing! You can bring your medications to the local dropbox at your police station 24/7, or to the Drug Takeback Day dropoff at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. You can also use a Deterra bag (available from Positive Directions, your local prevention council, or your health department) to safely deactivate your drugs and then drop the bag in the trash.
Peer Support Updates for October
CT Support Group Halloween Movie Watch Party - October 29th
Looking for a spooky way to spend your Wednesday night? Join CT Support Group on Discord to watch a Halloween movie on Wednesday October 29th at 8pm! We’ll be in the watch party voice channel with our snack!
Haven’t joined our Discord yet? Head to bit.ly/ctsgdiscord to join!
Want to learn more about the server? Click here for answers to commonly asked questions!
Seeking Peer Support Specialists!
We are looking for a part-time Peer Support Specialist for the CT Support Group project.
For more information about the position, click the button below!
Clinical Updates
We're Hiring!
Positive Directions is looking for two clinicians to join our team and support our community.
Please click the link below to visit our Careers page and find out more if interested!
Other News
NAMI CT Educational Conference - October 24th
NAMI Connecticut proudly celebrates 40 years of unwavering advocacy, education, and support for individuals and families impacted by mental illness.
Join for an inspiring event that brings together mental health professionals, peers, caregivers, advocates, and community leaders from across Connecticut.
Themed “Building Hope Together,” the 2025 NAMI Connecticut Conference is more than just a gathering — it is a powerful movement toward building a brighter future for mental health.
Register today to secure your spot in the educational breakout sessions!
