Every year, August 31st stands as a beacon for communities worldwide, marking International Overdose Awareness Day. It’s a day filled with mixed emotions — remembrance, sorrow, solidarity, and hope. But more than anything, it’s a call for understanding. It beckons us to delve deeper into the complex world of overdoses, why they occur, how to recognize them, and ways to prevent them. Within this intricate tapestry, there’s an undeniable thread connecting overdose to mental health. In this article, we aim to shed light on these intertwined issues, especially in the Canadian context.