WHO ARE LES INTERMÉDIAIRES?
For more than 30 years, the Intermédiaires have formed a province-wide mutual-aid and listening network composed of volunteer workers and employers supporting their peers struggling with dependency or mental health issues.
Although they aren’t healthcare professionals, these industry volunteers receive training to appropriately listen to and support their peers living with these challenges and to guide them to the available resources, such as Construire en santé, a health-promotion and management program run by MÉDIC Construction.
A CHANGE AGENT AND ITS NETWORK
By providing confidential assistance and guidance to people who ask for their help, and by making it easier for them to take steps, the Intermédiaires are valuable change agents in their environment. The presence of more than 700 Intermédiaires on construction sites across Québec contributes to early detection of problems and encourages a culture of mutual aid.
Getting help
The Intermédiaires are there to support you. On construction sites, you can identify them quickly by spotting the “i” symbol on their helmet, or you can contact your association.
If you need help, you can also contact a healthcare professional from the Construire en santé assistance program, at 1 800 807-2433. This frontline service is offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Construire en santé program is offered exclusively to eligible MÉDIC Construction insureds and their dependents.
“À COFFRE OUVERT” PODCAST
To start the conversation about these issues, which are far from being exclusive to the construction industry, the À coffre ouvert podcast series was created (available in French only). Hosted by the humourist and actor Jonathan Roberge, the episodes highlight the Intermédiaires and the specialists who unjudgmentally deal with dependency and mental health problems.
All of the discussions, some of which are quite emotional, take place in a context of openness and friendliness – and all with a touch of humour. Punctuated with sincerely related anecdotes and personal experiences, the podcast leaves no one indifferent.
The first four episodes touch on the subjects of alcoholism, performance-enhancing drugs, post-traumatic stress problems, and detecting signs of distress.
View the episodes or listen to them in audio format on the various listening platforms.
Episode 1 / Alcoholism
Listen to a powerful discussion that exposes the consequences of alcoholism and addresses the collateral damage, often suffered in silence, caused by this scourge that affects all levels of society and spares no industry. Motives, symptoms, therapy, and reflections and introspection are all on the menu for this touching and on-point episode!
Guests:
- Mathieu Barbeau, bricklayer-mason and Intermédiaire
- Frédéric Simard, pipe fitter and Intermédiaire
- Joannie Gauthier, M.A., sexologist and psychotherapist, Leader Santé Mentale Québec for GreenShield
Episode 2 / Performance and performance-enhancing drugs
What impels people to fall into the trap of performance-enhancing drugs? And above all, how do they extricate themselves from this downward spiral? The Intermédiaires openly share their experiences with these harmful and addictive substances, which are often all too easily accessible.
Guests:
- Frédéric Simard, pipe fitter and Intermédiaire
- Christian Vachon, carpenter-joiner and Intermédiaire
- Joannie Gauthier, M.A., sexologist and psychotherapist, Leader Santé Mentale Québec for GreenShield
Episode 3 / Nonverbal signs and detection of distress
The interventions in this episode paint a portrait of the different common signs of psychological distress and alert listeners on ways to recognize them. Developing empathy and recognizing behaviour changes are just a couple of the ways to detect other people’s unhappiness. You’ll have a front-row seat as you hear surprising stories in which the Intermédiaires’ sixth sense turned out to be indispensable!
Guests:
- Mike Parent, blaster-driller and Intermédiaire
- Manuel Constant, synergologist at Syner-GO
- Joannie Gauthier, M.A., sexologist and psychotherapist, Leader Santé Mentale Québec for GreenShield
Episode 4 / Post-traumatic stress problems
How does your brain react when you undergo or witness a serious accident or human tragedy? Our expert answers this question and, with the Intermédiaires, addresses the physical and psychological repercussions of post-traumatic stress problems. Shocking stories with different outcomes, where each person takes a unique path to cope with unforeseen circumstances and their new reality.
Guests:
- Mathieu Barbeau, bricklayer-mason and Intermédiaire
- Mike Parent, blaster-driller and Intermédiaire
- Joannie Gauthier, M.A., sexologist and psychotherapist, Leader Santé Mentale Québec for GreenShield