Northumberland Hills Hospital recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day with the support of local community partners
On August 31st, Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) recognized International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) with the hospital’s first-ever public display for staff, physicians, midwives, volunteers, and visitors.
In collaboration with Fourcast and Moms Stop the Harm, NHH hosted an interactive display to raise awareness for IOAD, which included the distribution of free naloxone kits, informational materials for community resources, and the opportunity to speak with a team member from NHH’s Community Mental Health Services.
Emma Taylor, NHH’s Integrated Director for Mental Health Community Programs and Services spoke to the importance of International Overdose Awareness Day and its impact on the community, saying, “Our community and our staff have seen the detrimental impact of increasing overdoses here in Northumberland County. NHH’s overdose awareness event is a collaborative approach to offering resources and information to anyone who is interested. Alongside our partners, we aim to create accessibility to addictions supports and honour those individuals who we have lost to overdoses.”
“It is believed that International Overdose Awareness Day allows families the freedom to honour and mourn the loss of a loved one in a non-judgmental way, which helps to reduce the stigma of overdose,” said Liane Covert, who serves on NHH’s Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC), Mental Health Quality and Practice Committee.
“Let us bring awareness and end the stigma of drug overdose. It is equally as important to bring both hope and acceptance to those living with mental health and addictions,” said Sharon McKinnon from NHH’s ACT team.