Help at hand for truckies doing it tough

Time to take stock for world Mental Health Day

Today (Friday, October 10) is World Mental Health Day, while this week in Australia it's Mental Health Week. It's a time for everyone to take stock of their own mental wellbeing as well as that of their loved ones and colleagues, and it's a theme of particular relevance to Australia's truck drivers.

Driving trucks – especially on long-haul routes – can be tough work. Long hours on the road, delivery pressures, unexpected emergencies, time away from family and the effects of a sedentary lifestyle can all take their toll.

The fatality rate for truck drivers is 11 times higher than the rate for other workers in this country. Research has shown that 29 per cent of truck drivers smoke, 79 per cent suffer from physical inactivity, 71 per cent are overweight or obese, 54 per cent have poor diets, and 26 per cent are at risk from alcohol abuse, while truckies also have a 30 per cent higher risk of coronary heart disease.

Depression and anxiety also affect many truck drivers as they do the general population. According to the Black Dog Institute, one in five Australians (20 per cent) aged 16 to 85 will experience a mental illness in any year, while almost half (45 per cent) will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives.

Worryingly, 65 per cent of people suffering from a mental illness don't access medical treatment. An average of 36 people attempt suicide every day in this country, and six of them are successful.

However, mental illness is treatable and help is available. While national initiative beyondblue provides a wonderful general resource for people seeking assistance, today is also a timely opportunity to remind truckies of the 1300 DRIVER (1300 374 837) help line.

Set up and operated by Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital and backed with federal funding, 1300 DRIVER is available to truck drivers nationally and operates around the clock – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It's also available to truckies' loved ones, who may be concerned about their truck-driving friend or relative.

A completely confidential service, 1300 DRIVER offers truckies advice, information and referrals. Staffed by health professionals, caller's phone numbers are not displayed and calls are not recorded.

According to the Assistant Manager of St Vincent's Alcohol and Drug Information Service, Elizabeth Merrilees, the 1300 DRIVER service can help truck drivers end or prevent a range of unhealthy behaviours.

"With the stress, anxiety and long hours on the road, it's easy to develop unhealthy behaviours that negatively impact drivers, their families and communities," she said.

The 1300 DRIVER helpline is also supported by a website, www.1300Driver.org.au, which offers a range of information and a number of 'self check' questionnaires.

Calls to 1300 DRIVER from a landline are charged at the cost of a standard call, while calls from mobiles are charged at the standard rate.

To access the 1300 DRIVER service call 1300 374 837 or visit www.1300Driver.org.au.

Help at hand for truckies doing it tough

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