• The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world’s worst public health crises, and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.
• The campaign also acknowledges the profound grief felt by families and friends whose loved ones have died or suffered permanent injury from a drug overdose.
• International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.

The goals of International Overdose Awareness Day are:

• To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame.
• To include the greatest number of people in International Overdose Awareness Day events, and encourage non-denominational involvement.
• To provide information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.
• To send a strong message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.
• To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
• To provide basic information on the range of support services that are available.
• To prevent and reduce drug-related harm by supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
• To inform people around the world about the risk of overdose.

How to Get Involved & Participate

Overdose Awareness & Education

The following information comes from Lifeline. 

ECLIPSE IN THE WHEATBELT is an online support group for adults who have survived one or more suicide attempts.

Supported by Lotterywest, this FREE online support group offers a safe space to:

• Connect with people who have had a similar lived experience.
• Increase comfort with and ability to speak about the thoughts and feelings which lead to a suicide attempt.
• Increase coping skills in relation to suicidal thoughts.

The group members are supported by two highly trained and compassionate Lifeline WA facilitators, one lead facilitator and one peer facilitator who has their own lived experience.

Crisis Support About the Eclipse Program How does it work?

The following information comes from Beyond Blue. 

BIG BLUE TABLE is an initiative from Beyond Blue that cooks up meaningful conversations to raise funds and fight the stigma around mental health.

It encourages people to connect over a meal in a fun environment whilst having courageous conversations with their friends, family and colleagues.

This October, Mental Health Month, fight the stigma of mental health - one meal at a time. Join over 5,000 Big Blue Table Hosts who have raised vital funds for our Support Service.

How it works:

It's as simple as signing up, decorating your tables with all the goodies in your host kit, inviting your guests and raising vital funds for the Beyond Blue Support Service. Whether it’s by hosting a pot-luck lunch in the office, decking your whole kitchen out in blue, or having a picnic in the park, each meal you have can lead to life-changing conversations.

About Big Blue Table How does it help?