Thursday, February 18, 2021

Truck Drivers’ Mental Health Moves to the Front Burner

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, over a million American truckers will suffer from job-related trauma at some point in their careers

While much attention has been paid to the physical well-being of truckers—truck drivers have one of the highest rates for injury and illness—stress and poor mental health are only beginning to be addressed. And both are linked to drivers’ physical health.

Researchers at Lakehead University are undertaking a study to better understand risk factors for depression in long-haul truckers. The university is seeking input from drivers and is conducting an online survey on mental health issues.

“We need to have real conversations about mental health,” says Joanne Ritchie, executive director of the Owner-Operator’s Business Association of Canada, which is promoting the study. “And we need better research that includes input from drivers themselves about what’s happening out on the road that impacts their health and well-being.”

Andrea Morley, a nutritionist and program manager for Healthy Trucker, says that physical health and mental health of truckers go hand in hand. Mental health should be part of any driver health program.

“Five years ago, we just talked about physical health and how important that is,” she says. “In recent years [mental health] has moved to the front burner.”

The stress that drivers often deal with on the road builds cortisol and adrenaline levels in the body, which can raise blood pressure and increase abdominal fat, both contributors to heart attack and stroke. Both of these stress hormones also contribute to fatigue and slower reaction times. Morley suggests more research is needed into the link between mental health and reaction times.

Sources: safetydriven.ca, trucknews.com, healthytrucker.com

Truck Drivers’ Mental Health Moves to the Front Burner

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