Breaking the Silence: Addiction and Mental Health in Construction

Construction is an industry built on pride, resilience and getting the job done. Often under intense pressure, long hours, and physically demanding conditions. But behind all of this, many workers are quietly struggling with substance abuse and mental health challenges and the stigma that keeps them from asking for help. The impact isn’t just personal. It affects safety on job sites, productivity, and the wellbeing of entire communities. On this episode of OCS Talks, Brian is talking to Michael Varieur from the De Novo treatment centre. Michael brings frontline experience supporting individuals and families navigating addiction and recovery and works closely with employers and unions to build practical and compassionate pathways to help. This conversation is about awareness, prevention, and most importantly, hope. Chapter Markers: 0:00 – Intro 1:23 – About De Novo Treatment Centre 4:50 – How Addiction Starts 9:00 – Why the Construction Industry is Vulnerable to Alcohol and Substance Abuse 16:20 – The Prevalence of Addiction and Mental Health in Numbers 21:58 – Individual Referral 30:04 – A Look Inside the Program 41:02 - Most Successful Strategy to Avoid Relapse 45:28 - Initiating Discussions on Addiction 50:00 - Final Thoughts Call to Action: Subscribe for more industry insights and expert conversations. Have a question or topic suggestion? Reach out to us at info@iciconstruction.com or visit iciconstruction.com. For more information on De Novo Treatment Centre, visit denovo.ca. Tags and keywords Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, economy, contractors, unions, Ontario, ICI Construction, Ontario Construction, Labour, Management, Bargaining, Bargaining Table, OCS Talks, Tariffs, Supply Chain, Construction Projects, De Novo, Mental Health, Addiction, Treatment, Alcohol, Alcoholic, Drug Addiction, Awareness, Prevention

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