Mental and Physical Safety on our Roads (MaPS) has launched its third campaign for improving mental and physical safety amongst heavy vehicle operators, Your MaP to Mental Health: Service Your Mind.
What does it mean to service your mind?
Work and life pressures can affect your mental health. In Western Australia, approximately 75% of serious road crashes are due to a simple mistake, a momentary lapse in attention or fatigue.2
Mental and physical health is of vital importance for workplace safety and for overall quality of life. Drivers need to be supported to concentrate on the roads ahead and to make sure they arrive safely at the end of each trip.
Heavy vehicle operators are valued contributors to WA and are relied on for our essential goods and services. However, long work hours and being far away from family and mates can take its toll.
Things outside the control of truck drivers, such as state and federal regulations, weather, and traffic conditions, all contribute to these excessive demands.1
Work and life pressures don’t always allow the right balance of mental and physical health. Servicing your mind is a way to focus on your mental health to improve or maintain your mental health at home and at work.
How do I service my mind?
Start by knowing and understanding the signs of pressure before it builds. These pressures can look like tiredness, tension, dullness or even numbness. It could be a new boss, or a new baby at home, or a change in financial or other circumstances.
If you’re feeling the pressure, talk to someone, be it a mate or a family member to get started. Talking about what’s weighing on you can help you realise areas of your life that need a little release. Taking steps to spend time for yourself, the activities you enjoy and giving yourself time to adjust after a tough day’s work are steps in the right direction.
Sometimes a chat can make all the difference. You are not alone.
If you are still not feeling right, it’s time to reach out for support from your GP or healthcare provider. If your workplace has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), they are there to support you too.
Support may come in a variety of forms
We encourage all drivers to access a range of support services, including informal, social conversations with family and mates, checking out the MaPs on our Roads eDirectory, as well as seeking professional advice.
MaPs on our Roads emphasises the need for experienced health professionals to offer private and confidential support to drivers in the heavy vehicle industry.
We wish to highlight the importance of the heavy vehicle industry ensuring that all contractors and employees have access to this private and confidential support.