Greetings community!

Save and Reflect on Mental Snapshots of Your Summer

This summer really has flown on by. I would like to invite readers to take this moment to allow for self-reflection on the highlights and sweet spots of your summer experience. Once you have given yourself a chance to do so, take a mental picture of these delicious memories, and store them somewhere in your memory bank to easily access when life gets rough as a reminder that sweeter things are sure to come as you turn the corner.

International Overdose Awareness Day

Now, getting back to regularly scheduled programming, welcome to August! There is a very important mental health initiative that is near and dear to my heart occurring on Saturday, August 31st, 2024 which is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). This is the world’s largest annual campaign to prevent and end overdose, remember without stigma or judgment those who died by the disease of addiction, and to acknowledge the grief of family members and friends left behind.

The Importance of Unity

The theme for this 2024 initiative is “Together We Can”. This slogan highlights the power of our community at large when we all stand together to fight for a change. Addiction is not an isolated disease only affecting those that are afflicted. Addiction is a family and community disease that cannot be resolved individually. Community involvement in addiction recovery plays a crucial role in reducing feelings of isolation and providing individuals with the necessary support, understanding, and sense of belonging on their journey towards sobriety.

Support One Another

We need the strength of each other to lean on, to learn from, and to advocate for, greater awareness of mental health needs and the real-life consequences of untreated substance abuse and addiction. Addiction is not a “phase” that someone will “get over”.  No one should stand alone in our fight to end overdose. Together We Can allows those who are connected to the tragedy of overdose to not feel alone or ashamed. 

Share Your Story

For those grieving family members and friends who have been left behind by a loved one’s overdose, please know that you are not alone. A large part of your healing journey is sharing your story about how your loved one lived, as opposed to how they died. If you would like to commemorate and celebrate a loved one’s life, you are invited to add a Tribute in their honor. Tributes will be posted on this website as soon as they are approved.