The Politics of Memorialization: Harm Reduction Workers’ Experiences with Grieving a Drug-Related Death

# ARE YOU A HARM REDUCTION WORKER? 

A PhD student is seeking participants for a participatory arts based-action study exploring the impacts of client loss (specifically drug-related losses) on harm reduction workers. 

The study seeks to work with harm reduction workers outside of Toronto who have experienced a drug related death of a service user(s) to co-produce an arts based research project about the impacts that service user loss has had on harm reduction workers in the community.

# About the project

# Goals of the research 

• Explore how to better support harm reduction workers navigating a drug-related death of a service user(s)
• Develop a better understanding of how harm reduction workers mourn and memorialize the loss of service user(s)
• Identify barriers that harm reduction workers are navigating, when grieving a drug-related death of a service user(s)

# What's involved

Participation will take place in three stages: 

• Stage 1: Focus group to develop trauma informed protocols of how to discuss/explore grieving a drug related loss with harm reduction workers
• Stage 2: Six group dialogues/psychoeducation to explore themes/identify needs, using a photovoice arts-based method
• Stage 3: Focus group to explore findings/provide feedback

# Who's eligible

This study is open to people who:

• Work as a harm reduction worker in the community/hospital setting 
• Are able to comfortably share experiences of loss 
• Have experienced a drug-related death of a client 
• Live/work outside of Toronto 
• Are 18 years or older

# How to participate

If you are interested in participating, please email Sean Ferkul. See the study flyer and the research ethics protocol to learn more.

# Next steps:

• Determine if you are eligible/provide information about study 
• Fill out consent form 
• Complete demographic questionnaire 
• Engage in first stage of safety protocols for study