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Belfast City Hall Turns Purple for International Overdose Awareness Day
On the evening of Sunday 31 August, Belfast City Hall was lit purple in honour of International Overdose Awareness Day.
Families, friends, and Extern staff gathered together to remember the people we've lost - sons, daughters, partners, and friends. People who were loved, and who are still loved every single day.
What is International Overdose Awareness Day?
International Overdose Awareness Day takes place every year on 31 August. It is the world's largest annual campaign focused on ending overdose, and it brings people together across the globe to:
- Remember, without stigma, those who have died or been permanently injured as a result of drug overdose
- Acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends left behind
- Spread the message that overdose death is preventable
The campaign began in Australia in 2001 and has since grown into a global movement, with landmarks, buildings, and public spaces lit up in silver and purple each year as a visible symbol of remembrance and solidarity. It is a day for communities to come together, reduce the stigma often attached to drug-related deaths, and remind people affected by loss that they are not alone.
Standing together in Belfast
The gathering at Belfast City Hall on 31 August gave families, friends, and colleagues the chance to stand together in remembrance and solidarity. People held photos and memories close to their hearts, sharing their grief and their love in a space held together by community.
If you were there that evening, please know this: you are not alone, and neither are they. We stand with you, always.
A huge thank you to Belfast City Council for lighting up City Hall and helping us shine a light on remembrance.