Responding to the increasing need to address mental health and wellbeing in male dominated workforces such as haulage and logistics, SP Training has launched two new mental health training courses aimed at both management and drivers to coincide with World Mental Health Day.
The ‘Mental Health & Wellbeing in Logistics’ training course for drivers and operatives is the first to be registered as a Driver CPC module and receive JAUPT accreditation – and can be delivered both remotely online and in the classroom. It helps drivers better understand mental health conditions, cope with stress and teaches them how to improve their health and wellbeing.
Aimed at managers and HR professionals, SP Training has also unveiled a one-day ‘Managing Mental Health In The Workplace’ course to help management identify and support staff who are experiencing mental ill health and ensure they comply with employment regulations around performance, absence and return to work.
Male dominated workforces such as the road haulage industry, where over 90% of professional HGV drivers are male, are disproportionately exposed to the problems caused by poor mental health.
With many drivers concerned about their work-life balance, spending long periods of time alone and having to deal with unsocial shift patterns, the industry could be hardest hit by mental ill health and stress.
SP Training chairman Robin Brown said: “The haulage and logistics sector is a dynamic and fast-moving industry that rose to the challenge of the pandemic with staff more exposed to the effects of poor mental health and stress than some others. Talking with both employers and drivers, we identified an urgent need to address issues of mental health and wellbeing for drivers as well as other staff in the sector.
“Our training courses have been created to take a proactive approach in identifying issues and supporting staff. We’ve produced the first-ever Driver CPC module on mental health, which is set to be extremely popular. Additionally, our management training course will help employers navigate their HR responsibilities and help support staff in the best way possible.
“The driver shortage is still a reality and the sector has been heavily relied upon during the past months with COVID-19. The festive period and Brexit is looming so there are many more stressful challenges for both drivers and the sector overall.”
