In commemoration of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2020, we are launching an education campaign during the month of August. We hope to reduce the stigma and prejudice associated with deaths by substance use, build awareness and educate the community about the impact it can have on individuals and families who are grieving, and promote access to supports.
Each week through the month of August, our education campaign will focus on various aspects of substance use and the grief associated with this type of death.
We will be discussing:
- August 4-7: Stigma and the importance of language
- August 10-14: Complicated grief and how it relates to deaths by substance use
- August 17-21: Member stories and finding meaning
- August 24-28: Resources, supports and International Overdose Awareness Day events
All of our campaign and discussion materials will be available through our social media channels (@BFOMR on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and weekly emails through the month of August.
How Can You Get Involved?
Attend one of our ‘Death by Substance Use and Community Impact’ Virtual Workshops. We are partnering with Libraries in Waterloo-Wellington to offer these virtual sessions. Registration is required – click on the dates below to register.
Tuesday, August 4 – Idea Exchange (Cambridge Library), 7 pm
Tuesday, August 11 – Kitchener Public Library, 7 pm
Monday, August 17 – Waterloo Public Library, 7 pm
Tuesday, August 25 – Guelph Public Library, 7 pm
Send Us Photos of Your Loved Ones for Our Memorial Page
We invite you to submit a photo in honour of the people in your lives who have died by substance use. The image can be a photo of the person, an item that represents them or just their name. These images will be featured on our Always Remembered, Forever Loved memorial page on our website which will be launched publicly on August 31, 2020. To share a photo, please fill out this form.
Be Part of the Conversation and Help us Spread the Word
You can help amplify our voice! Follow the campaign on our social media channels, share our posts, tell your story and be part of the conversation. Use the hashtags #IOAD #SupportNotStigma #GriefLiteracy
Follow and Engage with These Community Resources
- Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy (@DrugStrategyWR)
- Region of Waterloo Public Health (@ROWPublicHealth)
- Sanguen Health Centre (@SanguenHepC)
- ACCKWA (@AIDSCKW)
- Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy (@WGDrugStrategy)
- House of Friendship (@hofwatreg)
- Ray of Hope (@ROH_1967)
- Stonehenge Therapeutic Community (@StonehengeTC)
- Thresholds Homes and Support (@Welcome2THS)
- Lutherwood (@Lutherwood)
- Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre (@KDCHC)
- Cambridge Food Bank (@CambFoodBank)
- One Roof (@oneROOFYouth)
- Waterloo Regional Police Services (@WRPSToday)
Our International Overdose Awareness Day Education Campaign is made possible with support from the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation. Our education workshops are generously supported by the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation – Weiland Family Fund and we are fortunate to be able to provide peer grief support for individuals in our community who are grieving a death by substance use because of the generosity of the Ontario Trillium Foundation. We thank you for what you are helping make possible.
At Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region, educating the community about grief is an important part of our mission. Through grief literacy initiatives like this International Overdose Awareness Day education campaign, we normalize the experience, encourage empathy and understanding, and create more compassionate communities for all. Thank you for being a part of this vital work.
