Mental Health Awareness Week 2025
Each year, The Mental Health Awareness Foundation, as well as other organisations, run various campaigns to highlight the subject of mental health.
Mental Health Awareness Week is in place to support, advise and suggest methods and resources to help individuals cope with any stressors or events which can lead to issues with mental health.
Even today, there is a stigma when it comes to people talking about mental health and personal mental health issues. When it comes to the logistics industry, and most working in the industry on the road for hours, if not days at a time, the opportunity to talk about mental health and their concerns around this subject is made even harder. You can often feel lonely and have a lot of thoughts and emotions to compartmentalise, with no one to discuss them with.
Mental Health Awareness Week helps to offer guidance for many who don’t know where to find the support they need, which we touch on in this article. The Mental Health Foundation is an organisation, to further support those who need guidance in handling any mental health concerns.
Many don’t talk about mental health; this needs to change!
Why is it that so many don’t talk about this subject?
The first factor is that male HGV Drivers dominate the logistics sector. The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Domestic Road Freight Statistics: July 2021 to June 2022 highlights that 98% of all HGV drivers are male, and only 2% are female.
An additional factor is in regards to the connotations of society’s “expectations” for men, they are less likely to seek help or guidance for their mental health problems.
As a man, asking for help can be seen as a weakness. It is not. Psychologically changing this mindset is one of the biggest challenges this topic will face. The more people discussing this subject, between friends or in safe spaces, the more the topic becomes normal in conversations.
The third point we would like to bring awareness to is that people trying to speak up about mental health concerns that they may have for themselves or others around them may also struggle with how to respond. This could be because they have never handled a situation such as mental health, nor have they been trained, guided or provided supporting resources when it comes to aiding someone who is expressing a need for help.
One thing to not overlook here is the person(s) confidence when discussing the subject, in regards to being approached and offering support. These campaigns are designed to build knowledge when it comes to talking about mental health.
Those who are HGV drivers won’t typically talk to their co-workers about mental health. Once again, this is because of the stigma that the topic has, as well as the expectations bestowed upon men in the modern age.
Causes of poor mental health
There are so many different reasons that individuals have issues with their mental health. This can range from:
- Working long/irregular hours
- Burnout/daily fatigue
- Poor working/sleeping conditions
- Lack of support
- Heavy workload
- Discrimination
These are only a handful of reasons a commercial driver’s mental health can be affected. Additional symptoms, such as a short temper, erratic driving behaviour and an increased dependence on alcohol, can also further impact your mental health.
The high demand of the job can cause additional stress. Having to meet certain tasks at a specific deadline and ensuring tachograph hours are correct can put a lot of strain on themselves.
Knowing the additional sources you can go to when you are struggling, as well as having a way to openly discuss issues with your friends, family, co-workers or line manager can give you a more positive outlook when it comes to looking after your mental health.
What steps can you take?
In the first instance, recognising you need help, followed by speaking up and seeking support from reputable sources, such as The Mental Health Foundation is one avenue.
Another option is talking directly to someone you know, who can offer guidance, such as in the workplace. For example, if you are dealing with feelings of anxiety or stress, you could go to your line manager first.
You can discuss with them the issues you are facing. Just having this initial conversation can break the ice for you, as well as your manager.
However, you may not feel comfortable talking to your line manager about such issues. This is because they can be more personal to the individual, and your manager might not be the best person to talk to, subjectively speaking.
Ask your Human Resources (HR) department if they have any mental health advice or resources in place. At a minimum, they should point you in the right direction for further support.
How does this relate to the logistics sector?
Once again, the logistics sector can be a lonely career path. While many in this sector relish over the time away for themselves, being on the open road, and going to new places, being on the road for hours or days at a time, not seeing your friends or family and being on your own can be damaging to your mental health in some cases.
Although your psychological health (as well as your physical health) is assessed in your medical examination when you are looking to obtain your HGV licence, this is the only time a professional will assess your mental fitness.
After that, drivers may feel their mental health only truly matters when they complete that process. Forcing our drivers to push their feelings and emotions to the back of their minds.
Having the ability to open up and speak to somebody who is not only knowledgeable on the subject of mental health, but is also able to help and guide you is essential for workers in the logistics industry.
2 Start Offer Courses Discussing Mental Health
One of our Periodic Driver CPC courses covers the topic of Mental Health, Well-being & Driver Behaviour specifically.
This Course gets those who drive for hire or reward to understand the pain points when it comes to mental health. As well as what to look out for in others who could be acting differently than usual.
Alternatively, if you are a manager, some resources can be utilised, so you can take care of your staff.
How can HGV drivers be more open towards discussions of mental health?
- Take a step back and determine how you are feeling mentally. Are there any stressors in your life? Are they easily identifiable?
- Do you feel happy and content with your job role? Do you feel supported in your work?
- Do you often feel like you can’t or don’t want to talk to anyone about certain topics, including mental health?
Try to change this mindset. Because speaking to somebody will help you to overcome your mental health challenges.
Resources- where to find support
Mind
Phone: 0300 123 3393
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Samaritans
Signs you are struggling to cope
Phone: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Shout
Text “Shout”: 85258
Anxiety UK
Phone: 03444 775 774
