The Intersection of Mental Health and Overdose

On Overdose Awareness Day, we honor and remember all those who lost someone who died from an overdose. For me, I will always honor my friend, who died at twenty-one to a fentanyl overdose. Many preconceived notions exist about people who use substances (illegal or legal), but he is multitudes  more than his overdose. He was creative, hilarious, and a gentle soul. He was a great listener. He was kind. He was full of passion, ambition, and curiosity.

By having authentic conversations around substance use and mental health, we are creating spaces of hope and recovery.

When I lost a friend to an overdose- I suddenly found myself asking the same questions I asked myself after losing a classmate to suicide years back:

“How did I not see this?”

“I wish I did more”

 “I should have been a better friend…”

The reality is, many of the warning signs for both suicide and substance misuse are hard to see: withdrawing from family and friends, changes to appearance, sleep and appetite, engaging in harmful behaviors, and fluctuating mood.

One thing I remind myself to this day is that the death of a friend, family member, or peer is never your fault. The stigmas around mental health and substance create invisible chains that tie people to shame and isolation. It’s easy to feel helpless, unsure what to do, and overwhelmed.

Stigma is a negative association to something. After working for NAMI Metro Suburban for about a year now, I have seen the ways that stigmas become real and create challenges and barriers in everyday life. From students afraid to ask a question about mental health in a classroom, to hearing stories of friends afraid to seek help due to the repercussions that might come from family. To be proactive and combat stigma regarding mental health and substance use, a few things come to mind. I want to take the rest of our time together and discuss ways that anyone can begin to change their mindset around substance use and mental health.

First off, radical empathy is crucial when working with individuals managing substance use or mental health. Radical empathy differentiates from empathy by going a step deeper. With empathy, we place ourselves in the shoes of someone else’s life. Radical empathy challenges people to get uncomfortable by recognizing systematic and intersectional inequalities. It starts within our own communities and individual selves, digging deeper within our preconceived ideas about a person. Some questions that exhibit radical empathy are:  what environmental factors are impacting recovery? What other marginalized identities may a person have that create barriers to recovery? What historical or family traumas are affecting this person receiving help?

Harm reduction is also a vital resource and a pillar of community care. Harm reduction adopts the idea that if people are using substances, why not make that experience as safe as possible? As individuals in recovery support, we can’t force anyone to change. We can mitigate risks and make spaces to create community and conversation. Specifically for substance use and harm reduction, this can look like drop-in centers where people who use substances are able to access clean needles and have access to education on substance use. We never know what seeds we are planting when we treat people with dignity and respect. Originally, the term “harm reduction” was used within the substance use community. Over time, we have seen this concept adopted into the mental health recovery field. In terms of mental health and harm reduction, this can look like creating safety plans, offering alternatives to self-harm, or funding more living rooms and crisis centers.

Research shows that individuals experiencing substance use or mental health challenges are more likely to seek help if someone close to them suggests help (National Council for Mental Wellbeing). People are more likely to express themselves authentically if they are in an environment that is free of judgment, shame, or ridicule.

So, this Overdose Awareness Day, challenge yourself to do your own research about substance use! Embrace radical empathy, let it rock you to your core. Instead of limiting your perspective to judgment, find a way to connect with someone you care about. My hope is that we allow ourselves to meet people where they’re at, and create community and connection that can inspire change in our communities.

Take time out of your day to order some free narcan on: Illinois — NEXT Distro

Expand your idea of people who use substances: Use + Harm Reduction Archives – Filter (filtermag.org)