Building a Culture of Care in the Trades Mental Health, Recovery & Union Support - Chris Lalevee IUOE Local 825

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Chris Lalevee, Business Agent and Member Assistance Program (MAP) Coordinator for IUOE Local 825, shares how unions can lead the way in supporting mental health, addiction recovery, and overall well-being for members and their families.

Chris explains why the construction industry faces some of the highest rates of overdose and suicide—and how his own lived experience with mental health struggles and recovery shaped his mission to ensure no union member ever has to face these challenges alone. Rather than focusing only on programs, this conversation centers on people, compassion, and peer support. Throughout the interview, Chris breaks down:

• Why mental health and addiction are safety issues, not personal failures
• How MAP and EAP programs work together to support members
• The power of peer-to-peer support and meeting members where they are
• How simple actions—like asking “Are you okay?”—can save lives
• The success of initiatives like Sober Sundays, created during COVID to keep members connected
• Why education, early intervention, and removing stigma are critical for long-term recovery
• How unions, employers, and benefit funds can build seamless, humane systems of care.

Chris also shares a moving story about losing a fellow union brother—and the lasting impact of realizing that no one spoke up in time. That moment became a driving force behind his work today: encouraging union members to check in on one another, speak up with care, and never look the other way.

This conversation is a reminder that strong unions are built on strong, supported members—and that reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

📞 If you or someone you know needs support: Reach out to your union or benefit fund Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7) Connect with trusted peer-support resources in your community.

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Together, we’re building stronger members, stronger unions, and stronger communities.

Visit IUOE Local 825 MAP for additional information: https://www.iuoe825.org/home/members/local-825-member-assistance-program/

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