Dustin

Turning Point is like a guiding light for mental health.

I was a pretty bad addict when I came here back in 2008. Turning Point helped me turn my life around.

I was clammed up. It wasn’t always easy for me to come forward. Then I realized that I’m not going to get anywhere if I don’t let them know where I’m coming from and what’s really going on.

They helped me with coping and social skills so I could get back into an apartment and into the community. I was able to get a job, and I haven’t stopped working since.

What’s most meaningful is how caring and attentive everyone is—willing to help anyone who’s in crisis or just having a bad day. They’re just, you know, very polite people.

I know what it’s like to be new—to be vulnerable. I’ve been there, so I’ve also been able to help other people who are transitioning into therapy. Sometimes they need a little bit of reassurance, or help navigating the building, or just someone to talk to you.

The groups are really good. Because of work, I’m only taking one group now—managing anxiety. In the past, I’ve been in so many. I can’t even remember them all, but I loved every one of them.

A lot of people don’t really understand the mental health community. Sometimes we get a bad rap in the media when something bad happens, and they put the words mental illness in there. I don’t like that.

Turning Point’s new mobile crisis response is a brilliant idea. It’s another tool that’s going to save a lot of people a lot of tragedy.