Initiative
A human-centred systems inquiry responding to the Yukon's substance use and opioid crisis, centred on rebuilding connection, reducing stigma, and identifying practical leverage points for collective action.
The work responds to a worsening substance use and opioid crisis, compounded by social division, stigma, widening inequality, and burnout after COVID. Many people care, but lack the capacity, confidence, and shared pathways to engage without fear of making things worse.
A critical barrier identified was not awareness of the crisis, but uncertainty about what to do, what role to play, and how to participate in a way that is safe, respectful, and effective.
A seven-month, interview-led and prototype-driven approach blending human-centred design with systems thinking. The work focused on:
The report foregrounds principles that prioritise:
The recommendations focus on shifting from separateness to community-based wellness and collective responsibility, including:
Sustainable Impact Foundation supported this work through systems framing, facilitation methods, and narrative synthesis that turned a complex, emotionally charged landscape into a practical roadmap for collective action.
The report positions this work as a starting point, not a finish line. A next phase would focus on operationalising the recommended connection and communication infrastructure, while protecting community capacity and ensuring that those most affected are central to governance and design.
If you are working in community wellness, harm reduction, or systems-informed crisis response, we welcome conversations about shared learning.
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