Finding Hope in Grief
Finding Hope in Grief is a peer support conference for people in Massachusetts who are bereaved by death from substance use - whether the manner of death is accidental overdose, suicide, homicide, medical complication, or any other related cause. The conference will be Saturday, October 22 through Sunday, October 23, 2022, at the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center in Westborough, MA, in a weekend of hope, healing, fellowship, and remembrance.
While the date, location, and mission are set, organizers are still working on details. This includes a search for workshop and healing arts presenters, as well as sharing session facilitators. We invite you to apply to present or contribute ideas as well as keep your eyes open for the upcoming registration materials – which will be sent out to everyone on the SADOD email list.
As SADOD enters its third year of operation, we cannot help but feel grateful for volunteers across the state who have worked together to build a lifeline for those, like them, who have lost a loved one to a substance-related death. Despite the challenges created by the pandemic and the need to make adjustments from in-person support to virtual, this network has remained strong and continues to grow, and not a moment too soon. According to preliminary data released by Massachusetts Department of Public Health, opioid-related deaths were 1,613 in the first six months of 2021 – 21 more than in the same period the previous year, and it continues to trend upwards. Governor Charlie Baker pledged to focus on the overdose epidemic – including treatment, intervention, and education. The peer-led, grief support program design approach SADOD offers is truly at the very heart of this.
An important element of SADOD is the peer grief helper (PGH) network, consisting of dozens of peer grief helpers throughout Massachusetts. This network began meeting weekly virtually during the first six months of the pandemic, sharing information and resources and building a consistent framework for statewide support groups. Their passion to build more awareness about overdose deaths contributed to a shared vision of a statewide conference – open to anyone this epidemic has touched. A committee of SADOD staff, peer grief helpers, peer grief allies quickly and enthusiastically came together to begin planning. With funding from BSAS – preparations for the first Massachusetts peer-support conference commenced, aimed at helping anyone who is bereaved by death from substance use.
As we continue to move forward planning this conference, please reach out to us at [email protected] with any questions or comments about the conference, or to apply to be a presenter.
We look forward to your participation!