Human Resources and Talent Management- Mental Health and Wellbeing Perspectives

Few people in the transportation industry would argue with the statement that professional driving can be a very unhealthy occupation.  Physically, the long hours sitting behind the wheel, lack of exercise (or for many OTR drivers little physical movement at all) and easy access to unhealthy food and drinks all take their toll on driver health.  

However, what often goes unnoticed is the condition of professional driver mental health. The professional driver lifestyle – social isolation, the cumulative stress associated with safely handling an 80,000 pound vehicle through traffic, separation from family and the related issues that extended family separation creates - can lead to serious mental health conditions. The severity of those mental health conditions is obvious in data like this:

  • 13.6% of truckers suffer from some level of depression, nine times higher than the national average.
  • Trucking is one of the top 8 occupations for suicide according to the CDC. 

Loneliness is a big challenge for drivers. Some studies report that drivers say that loneliness is their main source of distress. Loneliness can lead to many unhealthy behaviors including premature death. Referring to loneliness in general, the American Psychological Association has stated that loneliness is just as much of a public health hazard as obesity, it not greater. Can there be an occupation that encounters more loneliness?

What makes mental health conditions more challenging for employers – and more costly – is the fact that more than half of those with mental health issues won’t seek treatment. One of the primary reasons? Employees often stay quiet due to the stigma of mental health and concern that co-workers or supervisors will think poorly of them.  

The transportation industry needs to focus more on the behavioral health aspects of driver well-being. Here are three steps to take now:

1. Remove the stigma of mental health. This starts at the top with C-level executives and the company culture.  Drivers need to know that seeking care for mental health issues is not a sign of weakness.

2. Educate managers and supervisors on how to recognize the warning signs of mental health disorders and when they notice them to reach out to the affected person
. Make sure that they know what to do when they encounter those warning signs with their drivers including connecting them with their Employee Assistance Program. 

3. Make mental well-being care easily accessible. Take advantage of your EAP and other wellness programs and ensure drivers know the confidential benefits that are available. 

Norman Winegar, LCSW, CEAP, ACSW, NCAC II, DOT Qualified SAP  
Mr. Winegar is Chief Clinical Officer of ESPYR, a national behavioral health company. He has over 30 years of experience in various settings in the behavioral healthcare field. He holds a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth and has published four books and numerous articles concerning behavioral healthcare. 

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