Charlotte Haye 25th April 2019

Why Driver Mental Health Is Important

According to HSE, half a million HGV drivers were reported as suffering from work-related stress depression or anxiety in 2015-16. As the years have gone on, those stats are on the rise. Now, 30% of self-reported work-related illness within the transport and logistics industry is the result of stress, depression and anxiety (though they believe the number may be higher). Even now, there’s a stigma surrounding mental health, with 95% of workers calling in sick due to stress often citing a different reason for illness. In addition, 22% of workers have been diagnosed with a mental health problem but less than half have informed their employer. So the question we have to ask is this – why is driver mental health important, and what we can do to improve it.

Why Is Mental Health Important?

Mental health used to be a very taboo subject. You couldn’t talk about issues or if you were struggling, and it was unseemly to admit to having mental health problems. Thankfully, that has changed, and now discussions about mental health are a much more common, positive thing. But without positive mental health conversations and care, the HGV could lose a lot of good people and good drivers. Not to mention the fact that mental health issues cost the UK logistics industry up to £100billion.

There are lots of stressors that come with the job of a HGV driver – difficult working hours, night shifts, traffic, tight deadlines, mental fatigue and physical tiredness can all play havoc with your mental health at work and at home. A lack of ability to exercise can also come into play, which is one of the human bodies best natural anti-depressants. All of this creates a difficult and stressful environment to work in.

There is also a gender divide at play. Statistically, men are much less likely to speak up about mental health problems than women are and instead, prefer to suffer in silence. This is true in most industries but is especially prevalent in transport. This isolation means that conditions like stress and depression are likely to get worse if they aren’t treated.

Loneliness

It’s probably not surprising that loneliness is the tip mental health issues that HGV drivers report. After all, they are away from home and their loved ones for long periods, sometimes days at a time, and that kind of separation can take its toll on you in a lot of ways. HGV drivers often report feeling as though they don’t have a personal life, and that only seeing their family for small periods of time or fleeting visits do take a toll on their mental health. Over the last few years, researchers have found that strong relationships are the strongest predictor of a long and happy life, while poor relationships have been associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease, strokes, dementia and even catching colds.

Unfortunately, one of the realities of being a HGV driver is this disconnect, so it’s less an issue of trying to avoid it, and more how can you manage it and stop it becoming a problem?

How Can You Help?

So, how can you make sure that your own, and other HGV drivers mental health is being taken care of as prioritised? We have a few tips for you:

Talk About It! This is one of the single biggest pieces of advice we can give, and it’s the on that will make the most difference. There is truth to the old saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’, and talking about your problems can really go a long way to resolving them. There is a culture eight now around mental health (particularly in men), that you shouldn’t talk about your problems. But trying to deal with mental health problems on your own instead of seeking help could mean you’re suffering unnecessarily. Talk to your HGV training supervisor, your manager or even just your co-workers about what you’re going through, and what you need to achieve good mental health.
Make The Most Of Time With Your Family. Depending on the type of driving you do, you might not spend as much time with your family as you would like. So when you are at home, try to avoid just collapsing in front of the TV right away and staying there. Make the most of the time you spend with your family, your spouse and your children so that you can get the benefits. And remember – children will often remember the quality of the time you spend together, not the quantity.
Put Mental Health At The Forefront. For employers of HGV drivers, it’s important to recognise just how challenging these issues can be, and how difficult it is for a driver to come forward. There is still a stigma around mental health issues (particularly at work), and the only way we can break that down is by making it OK to discuss such things in the workplace. This means employers need to create a space for drivers to raise their concerns and get help if they need it.

If you would like to know more about mental health support in the workplace, or how to access support resources, just get in touch with the team today.

Charlotte Haye

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