Driver Hire shows its support for World Mental Health Day

Driver Hire is taking efforts to educate others on the importance of good mental health on World Mental Health Day.

Today many people around the world are doing their bit to promote the initiative, which was set up by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness about mental wellbeing. It’s estimated that one in four people will experience a mental health issue during the course of this year, of which only 25% will receive ongoing treatment.

Figures have also shown that 15 million working days were lost in 2017 due to employees taking time off due to mental health issues. Therefore, it’s in a business’ interest to show support for its employees too and take away the stigma.

Driver Hire, a leading transport & logistics recruitment franchise, is taking action to improve its employees’ wellbeing and ensure that its professional drivers, who are recognised as a particularly high-risk group for mental health, are happy at work. Richard Owen-Hughes, Driver Hire’s Group Marketing Director, explains why the franchise is supporting the event:

“If you’ve got a bad back or a heavy cold, it’s usually pretty clear to your colleagues and other people you interact with during your working day that you’re not 100%. But if you’re feeling ropey because of a mental health issue – for example stress or depression – it’s often not so obvious. And for too many people there’s still a stigma around mental health. We need to encourage people to talk about it more freely with others.”

“There are several reasons why professional drivers are at risk,” says Richard. “They work in an unpredictable environment – often on their own – where traffic conditions, the weather and tight delivery deadlines can all contribute to stress and fatigue. It can also be hard to get enough exercise, and to eat healthily.”

To help tackle mental health issues Driver Hire is promoting an initiative called ‘5 Steps to Wellbeing’ that is built around the following principles: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give.

By following these principles people’s social interaction and activity level (both mental and physical) will be higher and this has an enormous effect on mental wellbeing.

Although Driver Hire is working closely with its drivers, Richard commented that “it’s a vital important health issue for everyone.” The franchise has produced a special poster covering the 5 steps and so far its franchisees have distributed over 20,000 copies to customers nationwide.