Nearly one-fifth of the UK’s van drivers could be suffering with mental health issues

Nearly one-fifth of van drivers are suffering from poor mental health, new research suggests.

Research conducted by Mercedes-Benz Vans UK of 2,000 van owners found that 16.4 per cent of respondents considered their mental health to be poor or very poor.

There’s still a stigma attached to mental health in some circles, which is perhaps why just one in three of those drivers said they had spoken to their manager about their concerns, while 12 per cent admitted they hadn’t spoken to anyone at all.

James Harris, a spokesperson for the Mental Health Foundation, said: “Compared to the national average, these figures indicate that van drivers are experiencing an increased rate of poor mental health. In part this may be explained by the pressures of the job, and the fact that van drivers can often be isolated.

“This is important because we know that men are less likely to reach out for help, and are four times more likely to end their life by suicide. We need to create a culture in which anyone experiencing problems can ask for help in the knowledge that they will be supported.”

Fifty-two per cent of respondents blamed increased time pressures on their poor mental health, while 50 per cent pointed to their increased workload. A further 17 per cent said congested roads also added stress.

Steve Bridge, managing director at Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, said: “With a continued surge in online shopping, an increasing reliance on same-day deliveries and spiraling traffic volumes across the UK, the real-world pressures on van drivers are changing.

“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.”

New research by the Mental Health Foundation has found that the UK’s “mental health is deteriorating”.

In a report released this week, it said that just 13 per cent of people report living in good mental health, with younger people suffering more because of issues ranging from job insecurities, low incomes and living alone.

The foundation has called for fair funding for mental health research “commensurate with the scale of mental health problems in our society,” adding that “there is a wide gulf between the research funds made available for physical health and those for mental health”.

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from May 8 to 14 with the theme ‘Surviving or Thriving?’.