One in four of us will be affected by mental health but it can still be a scary or little known subject. It relates to the way we think and feel and our ability to deal with life’s ups and downs. Mental ill health is common, it affects many people at some point in their working lives and is nothing to be ashamed of. 

We all have times when we feel down, stressed or like we can’t cope. Most of the time those feelings pass, but they can develop into a mental health problem like anxiety or depression.

This month’s Mental wellbeing toolbox talk is designed to help drivers understand, start talking about and take positive action against some of the most common mental health conditions. It covers:

• The importance of mental health and how it should be managed in the same way as physical health
• Recognising the different signs and symptoms of mental health issues
• The five ways to wellbeing that are key to improving mental health
• How to open up a conversation to either gain or provide sympathy and support

Ensuring your drivers and staff know how to recognise the onset of stress or other mental health issues in themselves and others is an important skill in the workplace. Raising awareness and communicating some simple steps encourages an open culture where staff feel confident to share their true feelings.