Nearly half of workers and managers in safety-sensitive roles in Canada’s mining industry—46 per cent, according to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA)—reported consuming alcohol or other drugs within two hours before or during work. The figure underscores a deeper challenge: how workplace culture, mental health, and substance use often overlap in an industry where safety is paramount. 

In the latest episode of The Safety Share webinar series from CIM Magazine and the CIM Health & Safety Society (HSS) on September 18, panellists explored mental health and substance use disorders in the workplace, aiming to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote practical strategies for support and recovery. 

Building support in the workplace 

The webinar was moderated by Bryan Wilson, chair of the CIM HSS, and Kevin Watson, health and safety superintendent Ontario at Agnico Eagle. They were joined by panellists Shawna Meister, associate director of innovation and evidence in practice at the CCSA; Joshua Tepper, vice-president of health and safety and chief medical officer at Teck Resources; and Lisa Lounsbury, president and founder at New Day Wellness. 

Through research conducted by Meister and her colleagues at CCSA, surveying roughly 2,000 Canadian workers and employers, the mining industry emerged as a sector of particular concern for use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. One key aspect of the research involved examining who reported using substances, either during work or immediately before their shifts. Nearly half of the respondents in the mining industry admitted to doing so. 

Other findings showed that about six in 10 mining employees concealed substance use while working, and roughly four in 10 were unable to work due to alcohol or drug consumption. 

"What we're seeing is probably more people are hiding it rather than disclosing it,” said Meister.  “We also wanted to ask, what could be contributing to this?”   

One of the most common contributing factors, she said, was workplace culture. 

She explained that workers might observe substance use among colleagues and feel pressure to partake during celebrations or while unwinding. Meister also noted that unclear or vague workplace policies on substance use can exacerbate the issue.  

A key aspect of this workplace culture Meister discussed was reticence of employees to report colleagues they suspect of using substances. This reluctance can stem from a lack of trust in the reporting process, concerns about being branded a snitch and a desire to avoid getting a coworker into trouble. Other contributing factors in the workplace include a culture of “toughness” that discourages seeking help, particularly among men in the predominantly male mining workforce, as well as challenges linked to shift work, which could include long hours, irregular schedules, and fatigue. 

To address these challenges and foster a more supportive workplace, Meister highlighted several preventive strategies. These include developing peer support networks within the organization or identifying a trusted individual to talk to—who does not necessarily have to be a manager. Such connections, she said, can help employees feel safe seeking guidance. 

She also recommended that employees familiarize themselves with available organizational resources and that workplaces should consistently include education and prevention in their messaging. She suggested, for example, sending monthly newsletters with a dedicated section on mental health and wellbeing, keeping these topics visible and reinforcing an organization’s ongoing support. 

Another key strategy highlighted by Lounsbury and Tepper, especially for leaders, is addressing workplace culture around substance use and mental health by rethinking social events. Alcohol is often present at these gatherings, reinforcing substance use norms and making it harder for employees to prioritize their well-being. By offering non-alcoholic options and planning activities that don’t always centre on bars or restaurants, organizations can create more inclusive events. 

Navigating treatments and resources 

Meister acknowledged that individuals struggling with substance abuse, anxiety, or depression are not always the best advocates for themselves when accessing available support resources. She emphasized the importance of finding an advocate or guide to help connect with the right support—especially during periods of depression, when completing daily tasks is difficult, sleep and diet are disrupted, motivation is low, anxiety is high, or substance use is involved—since navigating resources can otherwise feel overwhelming 

Building on this, Tepper highlighted how mental health challenges often intersect with substance use or addiction, which are sometimes mistakenly treated as separate concerns. Both also face stigma, particularly when individuals disclose these personal challenges. 

There is a “whole suite” of treatments available today to address these issues, explained Tepper, including both in-person and virtual counselling, medication, and transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy—a  non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain and improve depression symptoms and other mental health conditions—along with more modern modalities, such as ketamine therapy. 

“Often, I've had patients come in and say, ‘listen, I know there's nothing you can do, I've been struggling with alcohol addiction, I've been struggling with opioid addiction, I know there's just nothing that's out there for me,’” he said. “I think part of what we want to communicate today is there is hope, that there's a wide range of options.” 

Local options within one’s organization or community can be a good starting point to access support, said Tepper, but he also encouraged people to explore provincial or national resources, such as hotlines where they can speak with professionals. 

He recommended considering medical resources accessible through the healthcare system, such as psychiatric care, social work, counseling, and psychotherapy. Beyond these, he also pointed to support available outside the formal healthcare system, including social groups, community networks, and wellness or wellbeing programs.  

Resources for substance use and mental health  

Government of Canada – services for substance use  

Government of Canada – services for mental health  

Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation