Mates in Mind, the UK mental health workplace charity, is urging transport companies to be more aware of their employees' wellbeing after a report showed high suicide rates in the transport sector.

According to a report published by Deloitte in 2017, transport, shipping and logistics sector had the highest level of absenteeism within the private sector industries surveyed, whereas transport and communications equally experienced the second greatest level of workplace stress.

Given that the most recent report from the Health and Safety Executive stated that in 2018/19 stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 44% of all work-related ill health cases and 54% of all working days lost due to ill health, this serves as further evidence that the cost of poor mental health to UK businesses is hugely significant.

More so within the transport and logistics sector, this impact is reflected in the concerning statistics from the Office for National Statistics, who in 2017 reported that drivers of work lift trucks had a suicide rate 85% higher than the national average. Van drivers were noted to have a rate 25% higher, and drivers of large good vehicles 20% higher than the national average.

“Mates in Mind understand that supporting good mental health across a workplace is an essential part of ensuring the positive overall health and safety of a workforce." said Martin Lockham, Transport Sector Manager for Mates in Mind. "With the high-risk nature of mental ill-health beginning to be widely addressed across transport and logistics, we are supporting organisations to step up and change this.

“The need for industry leaders to take direct action within the transport and logistics sector is becoming increasingly obvious. Recent reports reflect the harsh reality that many across the industry are struggling with their day-to-day activities, and for many organisations, the task of tacking the challenge of mental ill-health can seem daunting. But we are here to help," Lockham said.