Integrity Sampling has joined Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds as members to assist with the promotion of mental health and wellbeing of transport and logistics workers.
It can be easy to go without noticing the sacrifice made for goods to arrive at our door or for food to arrive at our supermarkets, but those luxuries are the result of dedicated transport and logistics workers who spend much of their lives hauling our necessities on the road, in factories, or on the port.
Unfortunately, these occupations in the transport and logistics sector come with long hours, workplace isolation, and constant pressure to meet deadlines, all increasing vulnerability to mental health issues.
While it’s important not to get buried in statistics, they often provide important context. Healthy Heads’ National Mental Health and Wellbeing Roadmap shows that between 2008 and 2014, truck drivers had the highest number of suicides of any profession.
Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds Foundation exists to promote prevention and understanding of mental health issues that exist across the road transport and logistics industries in Australia. You can find out more about what they do at their website.
Integrity Sampling strongly recommends individuals across the transport and logistics industry to use the resources provided by Healthy Heads and to consider becoming a member (free for individuals).
The pandemic has challenged the industry more than ever to prioritise the mental health of staff given the unpredictability of working conditions and the potentially increased isolation they face.
Many industries have reimagined the way staff interact with each other, some introducing new workplace social media platforms, some holding virtual luncheons where food is sent to workers’ remote locations. We can only expect this innovation to continue as employers, pandemic or not, continue to give mental health the attention it deserves.
NOTE: If you or someone you know needs support with mental health or well-being, you can contact the appropriate support service provider as shown below.
24/7 Mental Health Services:
- Lifeline – 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
- Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
- If you or someone you know is at immediate risk of harm, call 000.
