Almost a year and a half after the province declared a public health emergency related to opioid overdoses, a new, tragic reality has settled over our lives as British Columbians. As health care providers, many of us feel the weight of this crisis in our work; some of us have also felt it in our personal lives.

“While we work to stop these deaths, we also need to remember to take the time to grieve. To stand beside the people we work with every day and remember the human lives we are losing – the mothers and brothers and children and friends,” says Laura Case, COO of Vancouver Community. This collective moment of reflection is the purpose for the organization-wide moment of silence on August 31.

While for many this tragedy meets us quietly or sporadically, for VCH staff and physicians in the Downtown Eastside – or those working with vulnerable populations in other areas – the overdose crisis is loud, urgent and relentless.

“This year, we want to take a moment to honour the people in our organization who are the closest to this emergency. They are doing amazing work in very difficult circumstances, often while mourning the loss of people they care about,” says Patricia Daly, Chief Medical Health Officer for VCH.

Tips for organizing a moment of silence

• Teams can meet up for the voluntary, where-you-are, moment of silence at 11:00 a.m. on August 31. If 11:00 a.m. does not work for your team, we encourage you to find another time.
• It can be led by the manager or anyone else on your team who feels motivated.
• We offer the script below, to be read out before the moment of silence, if that is helpful – and/or feel free to share your own words.
• If anyone needs to debrief after this event they can connect with EFAP 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1 (800) 505-4929.

Moment of silence script

“We are currently in the midst of an opioid public health emergency.  We have lost over 1300 mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, and loved ones across BC due to overdose deaths since one year ago today, many of whom live within our VCH communities of care.

We would like to take this moment of silence to recognize the impact this incredible loss has had on our communities, clients, colleagues, and ourselves.  We would also like recognize the tireless commitment and resilience of our VCH staff that have played a critical role in preventing additional overdose deaths.”

Links and additional information

This is also an opportunity to have more discussion with your team about the current opioid public health emergency.  For more information or resources, you can visit links below:

• VCH Overdose Prevention and Response Website
• International Overdose Awareness Day Website(information, posters, fact sheets)
• Respectful Language and Stigma Regarding People Who Use Substances
• On the Frontlines of the Overdose Crisis: An Update (link to webcast from March 8 VCH All-Staff Forum)

Please feel free to print, send, or share the image above to promote International Overdose Awareness Day, or visit the website for additional materials.