Helping drivers improve their mental health

The main factors that contribute to mental health issues include financial worries, a lack of social support and stress in your job. You could say HGV drivers have to deal with all three.

Previously there has been a lot of focus put on the physical safety of drivers, but recently more attention is being paid to the mental health and wellbeing of drivers. Research has shown that nearly a quarter of HGV drivers suffer from mental health issues, including experiencing higher risks of depression and suicide than workers in other industries.

THE CONCERNS

It could be fair to say that today’s drivers have to deal with more difficulties than their predecessors, including fierce competition which has in turn lowered wages. Alongside this, deteriorating roads and infrastructure contributes to driver stress, increasing the risk of crashes which results in costly repair bills.

Even the future of the industry as a reliable occupation could cause increased stress levels. Environmental and efficiency concerns are spurring talks of replacing trucks with drone deliveries and driverless vehicles. Whilst these changes won’t put drivers out of a job in the near future, the discussions still create worry around job security. The anxiety created by employment insecurity is one of the main reasons for occupational burnout.

These relatively new stresses are added to the pre-existing issues that most HGV drivers have encountered. For starters, drivers spend a large amount of time alone, away from friends and family. One study found that nearly a quarter of drivers reported that their relationships were negatively affected by their time on the road. In another, nearly 30 percent of drivers expressed feelings of loneliness.

Then there is the issue of persistent lack of sleep. Around 13 percent of drivers report that they get less than five hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. We’ve actually written an article covering this in more detail which can be found here.

PROBLEM PREVENTION

The future of the industry is not entirely predictable, and the conditions of the road are outside of a driver’s control, but there are some immediate, practical steps that drivers can take to mitigate the stresses that they encounter.

As previously mentioned, sleep deprivation is one of the primary culprits in both physical and mental health issues. Techniques for maintaining a good sleeping pattern include creating consistent driving schedules, taking breaks earlier in the trip and reducing caffeine and tobacco consumption. 

When it comes to social support, maintaining quality relationships is vital. Technology is making it a lot easier to keep in touch with loved ones. Not only can smartphones be linked to dashboard communications, allowing you to speak hands free, but they also allow you to take advantage of video communication when you’re parked up. Whilst not the perfect substitute for physical presence, it will allow you to feel closer to your loved ones.

Taking advantage of available mental health therapy or discussions with peers is becoming more and more popular. Finding the time to visit somebody may be difficult for drivers, but most support networks will now offer video conferencing to help you with any issues you may have. 

Drivers need to make sure that they are aware of the consequences associated with substance abuse in the industry. Drugs can initially contribute to motivation and positive feelings, but the long term effects will make the user more tired and depressed. This can lead to a vicious cycle of feeling the need to take more of the drug to achieve these positive feelings, leading to addiction and dependence. 

Finally, drivers need to know that they are not alone in their struggles. Drivers have long had a reputation of being tough individuals, which sometimes dissuades them from seeking help when it is genuinely needed. This is where our ‘Open Space’ sessions may help. These sessions bring together drivers to discuss any issues that they currently have and seek advice from their peers in a non-judgemental environment. If you’d like more information on these sessions you have head over to our Facebook page or contact us here.