Mental health is a much more openly discussed topic than it once was, and for good reason. The World Health Organization recently reported a staggering 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide, and with 1 in 4 adults in the UK suffering from a mental health issue, we need to do even more to take proper care of our mental health.
Why are we more comfortable talking about mental health now?
For a long time, Briton’s were uncomfortable talking about any sort of mental health issue. Our ‘stiff upper lip’ mentality meant we got our heads down and got on with life, despite the fact that we might be struggling mentally. Mental health conditions were generally considered a source of shame and embarrassment and it’s taken years to begin to break that stigma and accept the fact that good mental health is as important as good physical health.
With the help of organisations such as MIND, celebrities and sports personalities talking openly about their own mental health, and a generation that is generally more communicative, it feels like we’re finally at a point where we’re a lot more comfortable having conversations around our mental health.
Improving the Mental Health of your Drivers
Being a driver and leading a healthy lifestyle can be tough. Hours spent sitting behind the wheel, meals on the go, little time to exercise, and a lot of time spent alone can equate to physical and mental health issues.
In 2018, Mercedes-Benz surveyed 2,000 van drivers in Britain and the results were quite staggering. Despite that fact that as a society we are better at talking about mental health, 56% of drivers surveyed believe “there is still a stigma about discussing mental health in their industry.” 24% of drivers who had a colleague confide in them about a personal mental health issue said they felt uninformed, 21% admitted to feeling embarrassed and 17% saying they didn’t know what to do or say.
Head of Workplace at the Mental Health Foundation Chris O’Sullivan commented on the importance of “challenging the stigma” of mental health issues in a male dominated industry and to “encourage open and honest conversations about mental wellbeing.”
Making changes within your organisation to champion good mental health and support drivers could not only change lives, but save lives. “The latest Government figures (ONS Suicides in England and Wales: 2019 Registrations) show that if you are a man between 20 and 49, you’re more likely to die from suicide than cancer, road accidents or heart disease, and suicide rates in men are more than three times higher than women,” reports FleetNews.
What can you do for your drivers?
Open and honest conversations and communication are key to establishing a safe space for any drivers struggling with their mental health. It can be challenging for people to open up but creating an environment that makes it as easy as possible to have those early conversations may make ongoing communication easier, allowing you to support those who need it.
How do you start removing the stigma? Here are just a few ways to let your drivers know you’re there for them.
- Lead by example – if you feel you are able to, talk about a time when you needed help or support to show your team that it’s a) completely normal and b) it’s very common to need help when it comes to mental health issues.
- Reach out to drivers individually – check in with your drivers and make sure they know you’re there if you need them for anything, including talking any struggles they may be having mentally.
- Reiterate the importance of good mental health within your organisation – let your drivers know that you take their overall wellness seriously, including both physical and mental health. Start a campaign, organise initiatives, spread the word any way you can.
- Let drivers know it’s completely confidential – people may be worried what people might think if they seek help. Let them know that everything they talk to you about will remain private.
- Make sure everyone is aware of support services – it’s one thing having services available, but you need to ensure your drivers know how and where to access support.
- Have a companywide discussion about the challenges of being a driver so your drivers know they aren’t alone.
Although things won’t change overnight, it’s vital to start putting a strategy in place for your business. “The van community needs to look at creating a long-term strategic approach, with everyone committing to educating themselves about mental health and wellbeing, and keeping the conversation going,” says FleetNews. “For management, the education needs to go a step further with ongoing training – something like Mental Health First Aid England – to ensure that they can support those who may be struggling, as well as implementing strategies to boost wellbeing in the workplace.”
The benefits of having a healthy workforce
According to ONS data, almost 18 million sick days are taken a year due to poor mental health. Not only do mental health conditions lead to extended periods of absence but can also contribute to unsafe driving, putting your drivers and other road users at risk. “Poor mental health can affect concentration levels as well as reduce reaction times, and disturbed sleep, due to anxiety and depression, can lead to driving while tired – both of which are major contributors to road accidents,” explains HSM, who go on to report over 30% of road deaths and a fifth of serious injuries involve a working driver (or rider).
We can see that talking about mental health in the fleet industry is paramount. Your drivers may need more support than you know, and reaching out and having initial conversations is the first step on a much longer journey, but as we know, every journey has to start somewhere.
