After being injured in a serious car accident at the age of 23, Tyler of New Britain developed an addiction to prescription painkillers. Going through periods of withdrawal and relapse, he tried several treatment options but couldn’t find one that worked for him. He began a relationship with a woman who was also struggling with addiction; after she gave birth to a boy, a social worker from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families told Tyler that he would not be allowed to bring his son home.

The incident served as a wakeup call. Tyler began relying on several different support networks, including his family and a variety of services provided by state agencies. He worked with psychiatrists and DCF to identify risk factors contributing to his addiction, prevent relapses, and strengthen his parenting skills. His commitment to recovery allowed him to take full custody of his son in 2023. He encourages those suffering from addiction to not give up on themselves.
“Even when you think it’s as hard as it’s going to get, just believe in yourself, stick to a routine, stay busy, change what you’re doing,” he says.

Ryan first found himself behind bars at age 16, and would ultimately spend 20 years of his life incarcerated. Each time he was released, he would relapse into using heroin and crack cocaine, and commit crimes that sent him back to prison. He felt like he was trapped in a cycle of addiction and violence.

A turning point came in 2019, when Ryan began meeting with a recovery coach from the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). He was inspired to change his ways and become a mentor to his fellow prisoners. Ten years sober and the father of a teenage daughter, Ryan now works as a CCAR recovery coach himself, often meeting with the same judges and prosecutors who once sentenced him to prison. Sharing his lived experience with the people he coaches, he strives to be a living example that they too can overcome addiction.

Diagnosed at birth as being on the spectrum, Lee has been coping with mental health issues his entire life. He struggled to make social connections in school, where he was often bullied. After graduating from high school, he spent time in different psychiatric wards and didn’t know what direction his life would take.

With assistance from his family and a therapist from River Valley Services (RVS), Lee found a more supportive community that helped him feel understood and accepted. As a transgender man, he found further support through LGBTQ+ groups like the Rainbow Alliance and YAZ program. An active participant in DBT therapy, Lee has now discovered a passion for advocacy. He works to actively challenge mental health stigmas and inspire young people to find their own mental health support networks.

For ten years, Martina of Middletown struggled with a serious addiction problem. She had started using marijuana at age 12, and turned to cocaine after dropping out of college. One day, determined to do better for herself and her children, she walked into St. John Church in Middletown and spoke with a priest. This marked the start of a faith-based recovery that has lasted 28 years and counting.

Relying on the support of her mother’s place of worship, New Beginnings Deliverance Tabernacle Church, she began working as the church secretary and a Sunday school teacher. She ultimately returned to college and began a job with the Western Mental Health Network in Waterbury, using her own experience as an inspiration to help others find their own path to recovery.

Meet Jack Perch, a 9-year-old from New London who brought his community together to pay tribute to a snowy egret who was violently attacked by two young men at nearby Ocean Beach. Jack organized an event to help his neighbors process the violent act and show respect for nature. “Those animals are like friends. The golden rule is for nature, too,” Jack told the New London Day.

Jack’s actions demonstrate how positive action can be part of the approach to coping with adversity, but not everyone has the tools to process their feelings in a healthy way. WeAreCT helps connect people with services for mental health, behavioral health, and resources for dealing with strong emotions such as grief, anger, and depression.

CT State Senator Cathy Osten is a dedicated public servant with a proven track record of advocacy and understands the challenges veterans face all too well. Her service in the U.S. Army instilled in her a deep understanding of the sacrifices veterans make and the unique needs they may have upon returning home.

Recognizing the importance of mental health and substance use recovery resources, Senator Osten is a proud supporter of the We Are CT initiative — bringing awareness to the mental health concerns our veterans are experiencing and empowering them to take charge of their well-being and seek help if and when they need it.

When Ann Dagle tragically lost her son Brian to suicide in 2011, she channeled her grief into action — becoming a dedicated advocate for suicide prevention and support for those coping with loss. She co-founded The Brian Dagle Foundation as a safe place in the community for people to begin and continue the long road of healing through support groups for the loss of a spouse, a child, loss by suicide, and dedicated resources for young adults, among others.

Ann understands that removing any barriers between support and those who need it is vital to those struggling with depression, addiction, and other mental health matters. She recognizes the importance of the We Are CT initiative, as it assures the people of Connecticut that it’s okay to ask for help. She aims to make all of Connecticut’s mental health and substance use recovery resources more easily accessible to everyone in need.