Unsilencing Stories
Previously, this podcast featured interviews with bereaved people in smaller communities in B.C. and Alberta who have lost loved ones to fatal opioid overdose. The project was facilitated by Aaron Goodman, Ph.D., faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, B.C., and student researchers, Jenna Keeble and Ashley Pocrnich.
In this phase, we’re sharing interviews with seven harm reduction workers, also known as peers, in different parts of B.C. The B.C. Centre for Disease Control Harm Reduction Services defines harm reduction as “support services and strategies” that aim to keep people safe and minimize death, disease, and injury from high risk behaviour.”
Peers face a lot of challenges. This has been documented by many researchers, including Zahra Mamdani and colleagues in B.C. In their 2021 paper, they outline significant challenges peers face, including financial struggles, difficulty finding housing, and stressors at work.
We wanted to explore these themes with peers and find out more about their experiences and share this information with the public. So we conducted multiple remote interviews with harm reduction workers and invited them to talk about the stressors they face
The podcast is part of a research study led by Aaron Goodman and conducted under the auspices of the Chancellor’s Chair Award. Several researchers, including Caitlin Burritt, Chloe Burritt, and Giorgia Ricciardi, and a number of student research assistants played key roles in the study, and you’ll hear many of their voices in this podcast.
Unsilencing Stories
Latest Episodes
Taija McLuckie: Graphic Elicitation Interview
This episode is a graphic elicitation, which is a research method in which art produced by researchers or participants, is used to invite participants to reflect on their lived experiences, beliefs, or behaviours. Caitlin Burritt talks to Taija...
Ryan Nielsen: Graphic Elicitation Interview
This episode is a graphic elicitation, which is a research method in which art produced by researchers or participants, are used to invite participants to reflect on their lived experiences, beliefs, or behaviours. You’ll hear Giorgia Ricciardi...
Daniel Snyder: Graphic Elicitation Interview
This episode is a graphic elicitation, which is a research method in which art produced by researchers or participants, are used to invite participants to reflect on their lived experiences, beliefs, or behaviours. You’ll hear Caitlin Bur...
Daniel Snyder: Interview 9: Death, Trauma & Final Thoughts
In this episode, you’ll hear Lucas Akai and Esther Cheung interview Daniel Snyder for the last time. Daniel talks about a recent overdose death in the community, and the trauma peers face due to high turnover from death and burn out. He discuss...
Daniel Snyder: Interview 8: Exposure To Death & Trauma
In this episode, you’ll hear Lucas Akai and Esther Cheung interview Daniel Snyder about exposure to death and trauma and how he copes with it. Daniel describes outlets he uses to deal with stress, the importance of taking breaks to avoid burnou...