Suicide Crisis Helpline (24/7)
Dial – 988

BuildStrong by CIRP (Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm)
Dial– 604.521.8611 or Toll free at 1.888.521.8611

https://www.buildstrong.org/

The Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan (CIRP) was founded in 1980 amid a growing call for support for those in the industry who were struggling with substance use. Over the decades, CIRP has changed to meet its members’ needs, growing from a referral service to a Rehabilitation Centre, and finally to a comprehensive Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) treatment program.

Today, that program is known as BuildStrong by CIRP, and we are recognized as experts in the successful treatment of substance use and related mental health within the trades and technical industries, providing governments, employers, and unions with valuable insight on the impact of MHSU, and paving the way for effective, compassionate, comprehensive industry-led treatment that saves lives.

Focused on preventing, reducing, and repairing the harm of substance use and related mental health, our services are, and have always been, proven, private and, thanks to our partners, 100% free at point-of-care for our 45,000+ members and their families.

Our Three Pillars approach

Our comprehensive, holistic approach is designed to prevent, treat and reduce the problematic causes and symptoms of substance use and related mental health issues. By focusing on what we call “the Three Pillars,” we’re doing more than treating a problem; we’re giving our members the tools they need to make positive, sustainable changes in their lives.

Homewood Health (24/7)
Dial – 1 (844) 722-3327
Company – IUPAT District Council 38
https://homeweb.ca/en

Homewood Health’s comprehensive Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) offers short-term Counseling, Life Smart Coaching and online resources designed to give eligible participants and eligible family members professional and confidential help with a wide range of work and family issues including:

• Relationship Concerns
• Depression & Anxiety
• Stress Management
• Grief and Bereavement
• Work and Family Balance
• Life Transitions/Change
• Addictions
• Other Personal Issues

Counselling for any challenge is available in person, by phone, by video, or online. Accessing the EFAP is easy … just call the 24-hour toll-free access number 1.844.PBC-EFAP (1-844-722-3327). Your EFAP service provider can be reached anytime day or night, 365 days of the year – whenever it is most convenient to you. Homeweb – the online “self-serve” section of their website – provides a range of online resources such as interactive e-courses, i-Volve online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) and health, life balance, and workplace articles.

Counselling Service (Pacific Blue Cross)

The DC38 H&W Plan through Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) covers counseling services for eligible members and their dependents. Each family is covered for services of up to 80% of $750 per year. This is in addition to the free short-term counseling services available through Homewood Health.

• Find a Pacific Blue Cross Counselor Near You
• Download: PBC Standard Health Claim Form (PDF)

1. Prevention
   Learn how your own mental health and the world around you contribute to drug and alcohol issues and get the tools to stop it.
2. Treatment
   Get the 1-on-1 counselling, bed-based treatment and other guidance that will help you address the underlying causes of your substance use and related mental health issues and reclaim your life.

Resiliency
Get post-treatment support for you and your family and set yourself up for success with new skills and perspectives for a life well-lived.

Greater Vancouver Intergroup Society
AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)
https://vancouveraa.ca/

Vancouver AA (Greater Vancouver Intergroup Society) provides 24/7 support and access to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for people in the Greater Vancouver region who want to stop drinking or maintain sobriety. Through its hotline, online meeting directory, and community outreach, it connects individuals with in-person, online, and phone meetings across Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, and surrounding communities

Alcohol & Drug Information &
Referral Service

BC Road to Recovery

Lower Mainland: 604 660-9382

This service is available to people across B.C. needing help with any kind of substance abuse issues 24 hours a day. It provides information and referral to education, prevention and treatment services and regulatory agencies.

Province of BC – Recovery and Treatment Services

B.C. provides a range of substance-use supports, including counselling, detox, opioid-agonist treatment, residential programs, and supportive recovery housing. Services vary based on individual needs and are often free or low-cost. People can access help through local health authorities or by calling 8-1-1. If an overdose is suspected, call 911 immediately.

NORS – National Overdose
Response Service (NORS)
https://www.nors.ca/

The National Overdose Response Service (NORS) is a free, confidential, Canada-wide phone line that provides 24/7 virtual overdose monitoring and harm-reduction support. People who use substances can call 1-888-688-NORS (6677) to have a trained responder stay on the line while they use, help create a safety plan, and call emergency services if the caller becomes unresponsive. NORS is anonymous, non-judgmental, and especially valuable for people who use drugs alone or who cannot access in-person supervised consumption sites. In addition to overdose monitoring, it also offers peer support, mental-health assistance, and connections to local services, helping reduce overdose deaths and increase safety across Canada.

Medical Leave

In British Columbia, both the Employment Standards Act and the Human Rights Code protect workers who need time away from work due to mental-health-related medical conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other diagnosed illnesses. Under the ESA, employees are entitled to job-protected sick leave, including 5 paid and 3 unpaid days each year, and may take extended unpaid medical leave if a mental-health condition prevents them from working. The Human Rights Code goes further by recognizing mental health as a disability, requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodation, such as modified duties, reduced hours, or extended leave, based on medical documentation, up to undue hardship. Employers cannot penalize, terminate, or discriminate against an employee because of a mental-health condition, and they may only request information about functional limitations, not a diagnosis. Together, these laws ensure that workers with mental-health challenges have protected time off, support, and fair treatment while recovering.

Medical EI

More Info on Medical EI

Medical EI is a federal program that provides up to 26 weeks of income support to workers who cannot work due to a medical condition; including mental-health-related illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or burnout. To qualify, a person must have reduced earnings, enough insurable hours, and a medical certificate confirming they’re unable to work. The benefit replaces 55% of usual earnings up to a determined maximum and gives individuals financial stability while they focus on treatment and recovery, whether the condition is physical or mental.