Overdose Awareness Day (OAD) is a commemorative occasion; a time to honour the memory of the people we have lost. It gives us an opportunity as a community to acknowledge their loss and offer comfort and support, as well as an opportunity to counter the harmful stigma attached to deaths from overdose. The event also helps us raise awareness about the inherent dangers of drug use and substance abuse and offer information and strategies to avoid overdose.
The use of illegal drugs and legal drugs, such as alcohol and prescription sleeping pills and tranquillisers, can have lifelong consequences and contribute to injuries and death.
Research (below) shows that 18% of Australian deaths from overdose are believed to result from ‘intentional selfharm’. The Salvation Army’s Hope for Life initiative exists to assist people who are struggling to find hope, meaning or peace, or who know someone in that situation.
In 2009, The Salvation Army commissioned a Roy Morgan survey to examine the level of community awareness about suicide. While 80% of survey respondents were not aware of the level of suicide in Australia, more than 64% stated they had known someone who had suicided and 24% were not aware of any community services or organisations that provide support for people who are suicidal.
Many Salvation Army officers and employees work with people who are at risk of suicide, those who have attempted suicide, and individuals and families who have lost loved ones through suicide.
It is our belief that the majority of people who contemplate suicide don’t want to die; they primarily want the pain to stop. As a result, The Salvation Army aims, through corps and social programs, to bring comfort and support and, most importantly, hope and healing to people in desperate need.
Suicide is an issue that impacts all facets of the Australian community. May we all be people who are equipped to bring a message of hope!
For more information about Overdose Awareness Day please visit here.
By Major Robyn Fernihough - Territorial Social Programme Secretary, Australia Southern Territory.
This was originally published in the Others supplement in On Fire Magazine, 28 August 2010.
Thanks Ray for reminding us about this day. As you can imagine in my job as a Medical Receptionist I come across many people who suffer mental illness. At the moment I am endeavouring with God’s help to deal with a dear friend who suffers in this way. Years ago she attempted suicide and at the moment she is not in a good space but I am dialoguing with her until she can see her Dr on Thursday. I’ve experienced it through my own family and it is an illness and people need to understand this. I feel for those afflicted in this way. Surely those prayers that we were speaking about in your last post can help us in our endeavours in this area. I admire those of our Officers and lay people who give their time and talent to help those who are in this difficult situation. I think of their families and friends as well because it does have a huge impact on them – a greater impact than many realise.
All of our research indicates that each suicide impacts at least 8 other people. This impact is devastating. Thanks Val for what you are doing to support your friend at this time. I would encourage you to keep up this support during this dark and difficult time for your friend.
Robyn, thanks for your encouragement.