Thousands of people from all walks of life die each year from drug overdose. On August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day aims to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died due to drug overdose. On Aug. 31 – and throughout the month – you can help raise awareness, memorialize a lost loved one, inspire change and save lives. While it can be scary or upsetting to think about overdose, the good news is that education and preparation can help prevent it from happening. Learn how you can help by visiting www.overdoseday.com

Stigma: The stigma around substance use is one of the biggest barriers for people seeking and receiving treatment for addiction. It is also a barrier for those individuals who have tried to access services in the past. Stigma is often displayed in the form of discriminating attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours. We often use words to describe people and their health conditions that reflect our attitudes and approaches to helping them. Sometimes the words we use can be pejorative and counter productive. International studies by the World Health Organization show that people with alcohol and drug use disorders are among some of the most stigmatized of all health conditions.

National Statistics
3.3 million people die each year due to the harmful use of alcohol
350,000 people die from alcohol and drug use disorders
Only 14% of people who suffer from a substance abuse disorder receive any form of treatment for it.

MINDFUL RECOVERY
DEFINITION: Maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.
DID YOU KNOW: Stress is identified as one of the major causes of relapse, as well as inter-personal conflict, and negative emotions. Many treatment centres across North America now incorporate various stress reduction techniques as adjunct therapies, such as yoga and meditation in treating individuals with addiction and mental health problems as well as their families. Many centres also offer the same opportunities to their staff as it is recognized that these techniques when practiced offer increased self-awareness, a renewed spiritual connection, increased creativity, and a decrease in negative emotional responses to life stressors.
FROM A RECOVERY LENS: We all experience the basic human dilemma “that even when we know we are doing something harmful and destructive; we cannot always manage to put that insight into practice.” As individuals in recovery practice the techniques of mindfulness, they experience a growing ability to face life and deal with life deeply and effectively with mindfulness practice. Mindfulness is a natural antidote for many problems involved in addiction, which at its core is a way of avoiding life rather than being aware of it. Mindfulness assists people in recovery to rebuild their lives with greater clarity and experience greater peace and insight.
This includes the awareness that life is limited, and therefore precious, and the choices we make today can limit our choices in future. Mindfulness recovery is getting back in touch with your true nature, and exploring a harmonious path to recovery. Mindfulness provides a gentle way to begin to face the pain and perceptions that has been blunted by addiction and mental health problems, and closing off our emotions. By gaining or regaining our ability to be in touch with the simple pleasures of life, we reduce the need to fill the void with destructive behaviours including drugs and alcohol.
RELAPSE PREVENTION: When we hurry through life, we often miss the simple joys that could give us pleasure. Research supports that the practice of mindfulness reduces stress levels, which is one of the major causes of relapse. As recovery is a process, mindfulness teaches that it is important to maintain a compassionate attitude towards the experience, seeing it in context. It is a learning process rather than the end of the world. Awareness of what triggered the slip allows the person to form a plan to deal with the situation in future, and is helpful, as well as intrinsically healing.

Rates of occupational burnout are at an ALL TIME HIGH. And while self-care will not solve everything, “whole” modelling – being authentic and vulnerable and adopting a philosophy that ‘you need to be well to do well’ can help. It will help you and inspire your colleagues. The cliché is true – you need to put on your own mask before helping someone else. If your jug is empty, how can you fill someone else’s cup? So, take some time to invest in self-care and celebrate it with others on International Self Care Day on July 24th and beyond.

Employee engagement is a driver of a company’s success. Creating a work-life balance is a key factor for great business performance outcomes. A Human Resources Strategy focused on work-life balance is seen as a benefit to individuals and employers. Individuals report increased job satisfaction, a greater sense of job security, better physical and mental health, and reduced levels of job stress. The organization faces less absenteeism/presenteeism, lateness, and staff turnover rates. In addition, there is increased retention of valuable employees, higher employee loyalty and commitment towards the organization, improved productivity and enhanced organizational image as an employer of choice.

You may be stressed if you experience the following symptoms frequently: Weight loss, sleep disturbances, irritability, anxiety or panic attacks, frustration, low self-esteem, negative self-talk, under-eating, or over-eating. Here are 6 stress-management tips. 1. Identify your stress triggers. 2. Stay away from things and people that trigger your stress. 3. Enjoy two hours of “me time” per day. 4. Meditate and practice deep breathing. 5. Split your “to-do” list with your family. 6. Create a magic “mantra” for yourself. For example, “I am the boss of my life.” Keep repeating it to yourself during stress and continue this exercise until the mantra becomes a part of your reality.

We are programmed to be movers. Our physical movements can directly influence our ability to learn, think, and remember. Our physical movements call upon some of the same neurons used for reading, writing and math. The relationship between food, physical activity, and learning is hardwired into the brain’s circuitry. The full impact of our lack of movement is just becoming known. We may have literally programmed movement out of our lives with today’s technology-driven society. The sedentary character of our lives is a disruption of our nature, and one of the biggest threats to our continued survival.