The journey to positive mental health doesn’t follow the same direction for every single person – except for, of course, the start: deciding to make a positive change. Making the decision to work on your mental health and wellness takes courage, self-awareness, and the commitment to change. For some, substance use has become a barrier to achieving positive mental health, which is where harm reduction comes in.
Recovery Redefined
Recovery means different things to different people. For instance, some might think that abstinence is the only way to live their best life, whereas others might prefer to use moderation as a tool to guide their road to recovery. If you identify with the latter, harm reduction could be an effective approach you can take to begin your journey, ultimately arriving at a destination of improved mental health.
Sobriety is often the goal of individuals who embark on a road to recovery, but not everyone can accept the all-or-nothing philosophy of abstinence right from the get-go. That’s why Harm Reduction exists to cater to the middle ground of recovery, where many use it as a stepping stone before testing the waters of sobriety.
What is Harm Reduction?
Harm Reduction teaches realistic and adaptable skills to navigate your readiness to reduce your substance use, which helps you to prioritize your health and well-being. You can use a harm reduction approach to achieve a short or long-term wellness goal with the guidance of a qualified mental health professional to help you:
- Practice harm reduction strategies
- Recognize unhealthy behaviours
- Inform your decision-making
- Choose safer substance use practices
- Understand your readiness for change
By having the support of a counsellor, you can take control of your health and well-being by reducing the physical, emotional, and social harm of substance use on your terms.
Benefits of Harm Reduction
Recent research suggests that, in comparison to an abstinence-only approach, harm reduction encourages people to access medical care, reduce risky behaviors, and exhibit improved mental health outcomes.1 Once you decide to make a positive change in your life by embracing Harm Reduction as a tool to navigate your mental health goals, you can benefit from:
- Reduced risk of overdose, injury, and illness
- Improved self-awareness
- Clearer understanding of your goals
- Healthier lifestyle
- Greater feelings of support and empowerment
Begin your Harm Reduction Journey
If you’re looking for support to reduce your substance use, consider joining our online skills-building group, Reduce, which connects you with a qualified counsellor and a community of non-judgmental peers to help you make a positive change in your life.