A message from Dr. Tam and the Interim Clerk for National Addictions Awareness Week

November 23, 2021 - Defence Stories

Dear Colleagues,

As this week is National Addictions Awareness Week (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website), the opportunity for a real conversation about addiction and mental health is upon us. After 20 months of a global pandemic, this week takes on new meaning and we should talk about it: at home, with our loved ones, or at work, with our colleagues, every discussion helps reduce the stigma.

Some people use substances occasionally or for social purposes, while others use them more often, sometimes to try to cope with trauma or pain. We all have our struggles, and no matter the reasons, no one chooses to develop an addiction.

Substance use has increased among Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic, and tragically, the latest national data show that, in many communities, the ongoing overdose crisis is worsening. This is likely due, in part, to heightened feelings of isolation, stress, anxiety and hopelessness, and greater barriers to accessing health and social supports.

Addiction is complex, but it is a treatable medical condition. No one should suffer in silence, and reaching out for help is the first step towards recovery. We can all make it easier for family members, friends and colleagues to get support by letting them know that they are not alone and that substance use does not define who they are.

Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to seeking and receiving support and treatment for people who experience harm from substance use. Normalizing discussions about addiction and mental health, and speaking with compassion and empathy, can help reduce stigma and contribute to removing these barriers.

It is important to remember that you are not alone and help is available. There are many resources available to get you and your loved ones through difficult times. Our Employee Assistance Program is available for free to you and your immediate family, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Look up your department’s contact information. When you call the 24-hour Crisis and Referral Centre, a mental health professional can provide immediate crisis support or refer you to a practitioner. We encourage you to use these services if you need them.

The Wellness Together Canada online portal offers immediate, free, and confidential substance use and mental health supports, in English and French, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to all Canadians, including specific supports for front-line workers. Interpretation services are available via CanTalk, including in 24 Indigenous languages.

The Hope for Wellness Help Line (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website) also offers immediate and culturally-competent mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous people across Canada, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Counselling is available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.

At this time and always, we encourage you to have open and honest conversations with people around you. Together, we can help address harms related to substance use, and reduce the stigma around addiction.