Launched to raise awareness of van and truck drivers suffering from poor mental health, the CALM Driver campaign follows the publication of statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealing that the suicide rate for van drivers is 25% higher than the national average and 20% higher for truck drivers.
Van and truck drivers of all ages are prone to poor mental health due to unpredictable journey times, traffic congestion, tight deadlines, a high workload and lack of social interaction, which could exacerbate their mental health problems.
Launched on International Men's Day, the CALM Driver campaign is a collaboration between Driving for Better Business, the government-backed Highways England programme, and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), to help those who drive for work.
As part of the campaign, England Rugby player Joe Marler has produced a video message aimed at UK van and truck drivers to support them during these challenging times.
Meanwhile, Driving for Better Business has produced 20,000 driver information packs for employers to place in their vehicles. The packs contain a flyer and stickers to go inside commercial vehicles, making drivers aware of CALM's free and confidential helpline and webchat for anyone who needs to talk about the issues they are facing.
The CALM Driver campaign has already secured the support of both large and small fleets and courier companies. Out of the initial production run of 20,000 packs, over half have already been ordered by businesses whose staff drive for work, such as Auto Electrical Services and Yodel, which has ordered 5,500 vehicle packs for its drivers.
Other supporters of the campaign include the Murphy Group, Bott, and JM Hall Couriers – one of Amazon's largest delivery service providers. CALM Driver also has the backing of the Road Haulage Association – the UK's only trade organisation dedicated to road freight transport – which is promoting the initiative to its members.
CALM Driver campaign and resources, including Joe Marler's video and John Ryan's videos are available here.
Commenting on the campaign, Simon Turner, Campaign Manager, Driving for Better Business said:
"With a surge in online retail, there have been increased pressures on drivers to fulfil these extra orders, making their journeys longer and even more alone. These working conditions can increase the likelihood of mental health struggles and suicide. Supporting drivers' mental health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, isn't just morally the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense, helping to keep operations running smoothly, and drivers safe and healthy."
Joe Marler, England Rugby player said:
"I've struggled with my own mental health for the last few years, and it got particularly dark in the last 18 months. That is why I wanted to get involved in this project, to help others who feel the same as me, and try and help them understand that it's ok to struggle, and that they are not alone with these feelings. I'm much better than I was. When I opened up to my wife about my struggles it made me feel so much better to get it off my chest and share the issues I was having. The more I've spoken openly with my friends and family about my issues the stronger I've felt. It's strong to be open and honest about how you feel, it's not a weakness in the slightest. The weakness is not being there for your loved ones and vice versa."
Mark Cartwright, Head of Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention, Highways England said:
"Drivers who get behind the wheel when they are exhausted, unwell or distracted by personal issues are less effective and more likely to be involved in an incident; the importance of mental health cannot be underestimated. We urge anyone in this situation – and business leaders – to seek out the support available and we're grateful to Driving for Better Business and CALM for highlighting this important issue."
Simon Gunning, CEO, CALM said:
"There are 18 deaths by suicide every day in the UK. 75% of those are male, and suicide remains the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. That is unacceptable. We all go through tough times, whether it's the breakdown of a relationship, losing a job, financial worries, or going through a bereavement. And now more than ever it's important to know that checking in on yourself and those around you can make a huge difference.
"CALM has always been present in places where mental health issues often go unrecognised or ignored, we open up the conversation to everyone, we move it forward, tackle taboos and, crucially, stop people from reaching crisis point. That's why we're delighted to working with Highways England and Driving for Better Business on the CALM Driver campaign to help people who drive for work. By opening the door to the millions of van and truck drivers up and down the country we can continue to play an important role in challenging the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, and take another step forward in creating long-term cultural change."