Saturday, December 4, 2021 Mental Health and Addiction Help Canada is in the midst of an opioid crisis and mental health crisis Newsletters Alberta Local 63 BC Local 68 Manitoba Local 152 Ontario Construction Saskatchewan Local 151 In Ontario alone, 2,500 people died from opioid overdoses in 2020, and of those who were employed at the time of their death, 30 percent worked in the construction industry. Across Canada, 6,214 people died—up from 3,830 in 2019. Additionally, Canadians are consuming increased levels of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. Mental health has also declined across Canada since the start of the pandemic, with only 55 percent reporting excellent/very good mental health in July 2020, compared to 68 percent prior to the pandemic. 4 Mental Heath and Addiction Services Offered by CLAC Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training – This course is free to all CLAC members. MHFA is the support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis. Course participants will learn how to recognize signs that a person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis and encourage that person to talk about declines in their mental well-being; discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery to improved mental well-being; reach out to these supports; assist in a mental health or substance use crisis; and use MHFA actions to maintain their own mental well-being. Visit clac.ca/training to sign up today. Substance Abuse Case Management – If you struggle with addiction, CLAC’s substance abuse case management (SACM) team can help. CLAC’s substance abuse case managers are nonjudgmental and employ solution-focussed and strength-based approaches to help people recognize and address their substance use concerns. If you need help, have questions, or want to speak with a substance abuse case manager, please call 1-877-863-5154 or email sacm@clac.ca. All inquiries will be handled in the strictest of confidence. To learn more about SACM and access more resources, log into myCLAC.ca and select My Health and Wellness. CLAC Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) – CLAC’s EFAP is available to all workers who participate in a CLAC benefits plan. Get immediate, free, and confidential help through the LifeWorks EFAP. Topics covered include everything from mental health to financial planning to relationship advice. Help is available 24/7 by phone at 1-844-880-9142 or by visiting workhealthlife.com (enter CLAC in Search for Your Organization). If a bargaining unit doesn’t participate in a CLAC benefits plan, check with your insurance provider to find out if EFAP is offered and advertise that to your team members! My Health and Wellness – Live well. Be well. Simply log in to myCLAC.ca and go to the My Health and Wellness page to learn more about the services CLAC provides. There you can also access interactive tools on mental health, substance abuse, financial wellness, healthy living, and workplace wellness. Visit CLAC’s myCLAC.ca or email us at wellness@clac.ca. You might be interested in Regional Hospice of Quinte Employees Secure Wage and Benefits Gains in First Collective Agreement 16 Jun 2026 Toronto Construction Workers Ratify First CLAC Collective Agreement with Clonard Group 15 Jun 2026 Rebuilding the Aquarium 15 Jun 2026 The Human Side of Safety 12 Jun 2026