For any of us driving on the roads, it’s common for the mind to wander and to start focusing on the things that stress us out the most. We all have times in our lives that are more stressful than others – so, how do you cope when you’re on your own? 

When you work behind the wheel and for long hours at a time as a heavy vehicle operator, you might not always see your mates. It can be more difficult to “check in” and really see some of the signs and symptoms of emotional stress. 

Working in such an isolated industry, it’s important to build the habit of reaching out to your mates – just to check in – even when you have reason to believe that everything is okay.  

Getting into this habit will help build a strong foundation with your colleagues – and can make it more likely that people won’t fall through the gaps when they really do need a mate. 

When are the best times to reach people?

You might send a quick message while you’re on a break. Even if they are on a different schedule and can’t get back to you straight away – you have at least opened the door to a conversation, should they need it. Here are some ideas to get you started: 

• Send a funny picture to break the ice. 
• Ask, “how are you going out there?” 
• Connect with other truckies on social media – if you find something interesting you can share this with your mates. 
• Let them know about TIACs (This is a Conversation Starter) – a free text, chat and callback service for people in the blue collar industry. 

How do you reach out if you’re the one who needs a hand?  

It’s not always easy to tell when someone is struggling with their mental and emotional wellbeing. The signs of building pressure can be subtle: they can build up so slowly that it is difficult to notice at first, even within yourself. 

Our last blog post talked about how to recognise the signs of pressure before it builds. Sometimes the pressure is so intense or overwhelming, that you might decide to seek private and confidential help from a professional. Other times, you might just need a trusted mate or a friend.  

If you’re wanting to reach out to someone for support, here are a few ideas of how to start the conversation:  

• “I need to get a few things off my chest. Do you have a minute?” 
• “Mate, things have been a bit rough…” 
• “Are you free for a call on Sunday?” 

It can be hard showing that you’re struggling but remember: by putting up your hand and sharing the load, you are giving permission for others to do the same. You can lead with a powerful example.  

If you need immediate support, call LifeLine on 13 11 14.

September 9 is RU OK Day. This day was founded to inspire meaningful contact with the people who are around us – so that we can act as a safety net for each other and better support anyone who might be having a hard time.  

R U OK Day has heaps of resources to help you ask a mate if they are doing okay. Try visiting: https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask  

This year, RU OK Day are asking people to “Trust the Signs, Trust your Gut and Ask R U OK”. If you’ve noticed that someone is behaving differently – if they seem more withdrawn or quick to anger – you might start to think that there could be something else going on behind the scenes.