15 Sep 3 Ways To Tell Your Unique Story During Recovery Month

National Recovery Month is about celebrating recovery and raising awareness for substance abuse. But how do you tell your story during this time? You may be thinking, “this is a great question for someone else,” or “I’m not sure how to answer that.”

For nonprofits, telling your story is a powerful way to build awareness and support for your cause. In fact, we know that people are more likely to donate when they feel connected to an organization’s mission and vision.

Addiction is a national issue, nearly all nonprofits have a way that they’re either touched by this or can help. Help your community members find the recovery they need by telling your story with these three strategies during Recovery Month.

Here are three ways you can share your unique story during Recovery Month:

1. Use social media. Social media is a great way to highlight the issues that matter most to you — especially if your audience is online. You can use hashtags like #RecoveryMonth or #OpioidEpidemic with relevant stories and visuals. If you want some inspiration, check out these nonprofit social media campaigns from our recent post on how nonprofits can use Facebook Live video: https://www.probonomedia.com/blog/how-nonprofits-can-use-facebook-live-video/

Remember to make it personal. We’ve found that personal stories are often more effective than statistics when building support for an issue or cause. That’s because when people hear about someone else’s experience with addiction, they’re more likely to relate and empathize than if they just read about.

2. Turn to data to help tell your story. Use statistics and facts to show the impact of addiction on society and your cause.

Use data when discussing your own struggles: For example, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), more than 90 percent of those who use heroin report having used prescription opioids before switching over. When communicating about recovery, consider sharing these numbers with others so they understand how widespread this problem is.

3. Get attention from local media. Spread the word about your cause – Recovery Month is a good time to reach out to local media outlets and let them know about the work you do. You can also share information on social media using hashtags like #RecoveryMonth and #RecoveryIsPossible.

Share personal stories of recovery in local newspapers, magazines and other publications. If you know someone who has been through treatment and recovered successfully, share their story! These kinds of personal accounts make great human-interest stories that will help spread awareness about recovering from addiction.

Write an article for your local newspaper or magazine. If you’re not ready to share your own story with the world just yet, consider writing an article for your local paper or magazine about what recovery means to you or why it’s important for everyone to reduce stigma around mental health issues such as substance abuse disorders.

As an organization, there is plenty you can do to help further your cause while supporting others during National Recovery Month. Focus on what resources and strategies you have that can help tell your story and help ignite passion for helping others, and even generate enthusiasm among your team members.