Self-Care and Bereavement Support Throughout the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Process

Overdose fatality reviews (OFRs) examine the complex life-journey and system engagements of individuals who have died in order to inform community-based prevention and intervention strategies. Sometimes OFR team members may experience psychological effects from repeated exposure to trauma resulting in compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, vicarious trauma, and burnout if not prevented. Some strategies to address responding agencies’ burnout includes self-care and providing bereavement support for family members, friends, and loved ones after a loss.

This webinar will discuss various strategies that can be employed throughout the review process, such as compassionate facilitation, self-care, and bereavement support.

During the webinar, the presenters will:

• Provide an overview of what self-care incorporates.
• Highlight strategies OFR teams can utilize to embed self-care throughout OFR team meetings.
• Describe the need for bereavement supports for family, friends and loved ones after a fatal overdose.
• Provide an understanding of what encompasses bereavement services and supports.

• Melissa Heinen, BSN, MPH, Senior Research Associate, IIR (Moderator)
• Lauren Savitskas, MPH, Senior Research Associate, IIR (Presenter)
• Linzi Horsley, M.A., Fetal-Infant Mortality Review Program Manager, Indiana Department of Health (Presenter)

Resources

• Presentation Slides
• Bereavement Guide