The organisers of the campaign stress that employers have a legal duty to ensure risks of stress and mental ill health are factored into risk assessments at an organisational level, to stop issues developing into poor mental health.
The following actions have been recommended as a starting point:
- downloading a risk assessment template and see some examples
- downloading a Talking Toolkit to help structure conversations
- printing out / sharing Work Right’s campaign resources round up
- printing out / displaying Work Right’s Working Minds 5 steps poster
- signing up to Work Right’s e-bulletin
“The scale of work-related stress across the economy has increased in recent years. Stress, depression or anxiety is now is the number one cause of work-related ill-health in Great Britain. Within the transportation and storage sector as a whole (which includes road haulage), around four in ten cases of work-related ill-health are due to stress, depression or anxiety. Long hours away from home, demanding delivery times and limited access to toilets and showers are common causes of stress for drivers,” say those behind the Working Minds campaign.
In a press release promoting the campaign, Michelle Upson, a lorry driver who has been in the industry for more than three decades, expressed her concern for the welfare of her fellow workers.
She said:
“I’d say there is a mental health problem in the industry. Especially for the guys up the road all week and without their families – it is a lot tougher for them. Most of the workforce is men and the age demographic is still high. I think they are less likely to talk about their mental health problems so promoting it is a good thing.”
Upson added:
“Mates in Mind say it is okay not to be okay and I think that is a valuable message to promote if anyone has got a problem and whether they need someone to talk to. Line managers certainly need to promote positive mental health because if it helps one individual it is a success, isn’t it? Highlighting mental health is a very good idea and all managers need to be aware of it and that obviously involves training. If there are managers who are able to see and spot the signs of poor mental health then it would be good if they can try and help to promote good mental health.”
The RHA has also given its backing to the campaign, with Laura Taylor saying:
“We are delighted to be supporting HSE’s Working Minds campaign. At the RHA we recognise that our employees’ mental health wellbeing is not just a personal concern to them but a vital component of our collective success as an organisation. Supporting mental health is not just a token initiative for us but a commitment to nurturing an environment where all employees feel valued, understood and empowered.”