Increasing work pressures are taking their toll on van drivers, with one in five describing their current mental health as poor or very poor.
The research, commissioned by Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd to mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2017, was conducted amongst 2,000 van owners and operators and found that work was a contributory factor for three-quarters of respondents who said they had poor mental health.
More than half said that increased time pressures (52%) and increased workload (50%) are factors affecting their mental health, with one in three believing that job uncertainty is contributing to their poor mental health and 17% of delivery drivers adding that road congestion is impacting on their state of mind.
Despite this, only one in three van drivers who believes their mental health to be suffering have spoken to their manager about their concerns, with more than one in 10 (12%) who haven’t spoken to anyone about their mental health at all.
Steve Bridge, managing director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd, commented: “Our research findings act as a clear call to van drivers to talk about their mental health concerns and work pressures with their employers and for employers to actively listen to the real concerns of their workforce not only during Mental Health Awareness Week but beyond.”
More information regarding mental health and tips on how to look after it, can be found at www.mentalhealth.org.uk.
