CMHA Ottawa takes part in National Addictions Awareness Week, “Forging Connections” through empathy, education, and action 

Nov 25, 2024

Welcome to National Addictions Awareness Week, a time to pause, reflect, and recognize the profound impact of addiction on individuals, families, and communities across Canada. This week, CMHA Ottawa joins the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) under the theme of “Forging Connections.” Together, we’re shining a light on the realities of addiction, breaking down barriers of stigma, and building bridges to understanding, support, and compassion. 

At the heart of this week is our Someone’s Someone campaign. It’s more than a hashtag or a slogan: it’s a movement that reminds us that every person facing addiction is someone’s friend, sibling, parent, or loved one. They are someone’s someone, and they deserve our empathy and support, free from judgment. 

Throughout this week, we’re using every channel available to educate and engage. Across social media, we’re breaking down myths, sharing stories, and opening up conversations that too often stay in the dark. We’ve created a series of daily carousels exploring the impact of addiction—from its effects on individuals to the profound ripple effect it has on families and communities. Each piece of content has been crafted to bring us closer to a place of understanding and collective action. 

But we’re not just here to inform, we’re here to inspire. The continuum of care model, the push for harm reduction, and every effort made this week are part of a larger mission: to forge connections that last beyond this week; connections that will spark real change in the way we approach addiction. Every post, every story shared, and every conversation started adds up to a collective movement toward a more compassionate future. 

So, join us on this journey. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter/X. Let’s remember that behind every statistic, there’s a human story. And together, let’s forge the connections that help lift us all.

Because everyone is Someone’s Someone. ❤️ #NAAW2024 

If you or a loved one is in need of support, call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600. 

The Canadian Mental Health Association, Ottawa Branch (CMHA Ottawa), is an independent, community-based non-profit organization that provides services for eligible individuals in the Ottawa area with severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorder, many of whom are experiencing chronic homelessness or are vulnerably housed. CMHA Ottawa is dedicated to promoting good mental health, developing and implementing sustainable support systems and services, and encouraging public action to strengthen community mental health services and related policies and legislation.