Safer Substance Use for the North – Communications Toolkit for Mental Health and Addictions Service Providers

Safer Substance Use for the North – Communications Toolkit for Mental Health and Addictions Service Providers

User profile image Leah - EENet Yoda Master

in Research, tools, and information resources |

2 Logo - Eng3 Logo - French

This Communications Toolkit was prepared by the Northern Addictions Task Team, a sub-group of the MHA Pandemic Response Committee of the OH North Pandemic Regional Steering Committee. It was developed for Health Service Providers (HSPs) across the north. The Toolkit provides the opportunity for HSPs to adapt resources to suit their individual community needs, embed information on where to access services, and utilize resource templates such as posters and suggested social media posts to address myths and outlines strategies for harm reduction and safer substance use during COVID-19.

 

Background

There has been a noted increase in overdoses and unsupported withdrawals within Northern Ontario, however it is unclear if this is COVID-19 related or if it is a seasonal trend. Business closures, border closures and social changes have led to decreased access to alcohol and disruptions to the drug supply.

With the reduction of services and/or the transition of services virtually throughout the region, this has disrupted care pathways and has resulted in a decrease in access to some addictions services throughout Northern Ontario. There has also been reduced access to harm reduction supplies in some areas and a large amount of misinformation being circulated related to treatments during COVID-19. All of this has led to misinformation over which services remain open and accessible to patients.

What’s inside!

ToolPurpose
Safer Substance Use for the North logoFor placement alongside agency logos
Media Release TemplateAbility to personalize information/quotes
Drug Alert TemplateInformation for HCPs
Social MediaSuggested content for posting/sharing
Adaptable ResourcesAbility to insert information specific to agencies/communities
Curated ResourcesReady to use printable and shareable resources
Stigma and Harm ReductionConsistent information/messaging for HSP use
Resources AppendixListing of websites/resources for added information



 

How to use the Toolkit

Inside this Toolkit, you will find templates and resources that you can personalize for your agency/community. Instructions on logo placement and use are included as well as links to posters and tip sheets that can be printed out and distributed as needed. For those who are limiting the distribution of printed materials at this time, feel free to simply have the information on display or posted in treatment areas and waiting rooms. Other point of care areas within your community whereby information can be shared include walk-in clinics, pharmacies, etc.


User profile image A Potts - Member / Membre

This is a great resource. Can someone connected to this work provide the information about referencing this accurately? Thank you for sharing and for this information.

0

User profile image Leah - EENet Yoda Master

Hi [@mention:375966938743876551],

We're so glad you're finding it helpful!

To reference the overall toolkit, or any of the adaptable/developed resources within, here's the info you'll need:

  • Title: Safer Substance Use for the North Communications Toolkit for Mental Health and Addictions Service Providers
  • Author: Northern Addictions Task Team – MHA Pandemic Response Committee of the OH North Pandemic Regional Steering Committee.
  • Year: 2021


If you’re referencing any of the curated resources that were included, please cite the original source(s) directly.

Hope this helps

0

User profile image A Potts - Member / Membre

Thank you so much!

0

Thank-you for sharing this. It looks like a great set of resources. That said, there was one resource that might be problematic according to some research I came across about using myth-fact approach for trying to shift mental models (i.e. Harm Reduction Myth Busters on page 28). The resource showed that using a myth-fact approach sometimes has the opposite effect by reinforcing the myth, rather than “busting” the myth that people have...and often attributing the myth to the publisher of the myth-fact information (the organization trying to bust the myth in the first place).

Conversely, the research also provided some insight into what is effective in shifting mental models (i.e. explanation).

I have attached a portion of the Drug Strategy Network of Ontario (DSNO) Advocacy Strategy Primer that explains, along with the source of the research. Happy to discuss further if need be, and open to any refuting of this claim. Thank-you again.

0