Page 11 - Newcom

Enduring
mental
torment
By Abdul Latheef
TORONTO, Ontario
The mental health of truck drivers is suddenly getting a lot more attention, an indication that the problem has worsened over the years.
Media campaigns, awareness workshops and new research are all part of fresh efforts to tackle a prob- lem that afflicts thousands of truck- ers in North America.
In Canada, psychological disorders and mental health issues are said to be more prevalent in the trucking industry than in the general public.
Prof. Mona Shattell
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That is not surprising, considering that the industry employs more than 300,000 drivers, most of whom work in a high-stress, sleep-deprived and obesogenic environment.
How did we get here?
Prof. Mona Shattell, associate dean for faculty develop- ment at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, has conducted extensive studies on the mental health of truckers.
She considers loneliness as one of the key factors trigger- ing mental issues.
“Loneliness is a big problem in drivers who spend most of the hours of the day in isolation... As human beings, people need human-to-human interaction,” she said in an email to Road Today.
Shattell recalled that some truckers had told her that they were so desperate for companionship, they solicited sex workers just to talk, and not for sex.
She also attributed the poor mental health of truckers to low autonomy, low respect from members of society, low pay, long work hours and increasing pressures from com- panies and dispatchers.
Complicating the issues is some people’s refusal to seek medical help because of the hypermasculine image of a truck driver.
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