An Industry Epidemic: Driver Mental Health
Taxi and private hire drivers often find themselves in the therapist's chair for their passengers. Research from FREE NOW has shown that 20% of passengers vent to their driver as a form of free therapy. Passengers revealing all to drivers is nothing new, but driver mental health is something that’s talked about much less.
The same research revealed that 75% of drivers have experienced deteriorating mental health because of the pandemic. Considering how badly the industry has been hit this is probably no surprise. But it is concerning to see that nearly half of these drivers don’t know where to turn when their mental health is suffering.
A Growing Problem
It’s well known that taxi and private hire drivers face a combination of factors that can contribute to poor mental health. Shift work, low pay, threats of violence and racism all have an impact. Driving is also a male-dominated industry. 93% of taxi and private hire drivers are male. Traditionally, research has shown that workers in these industries struggle to deal with problems relating to mental health more than those in other professions.
Combined with a loss of work due to the pandemic, drivers are experiencing arguably the toughest time on record. Driver mental health is a growing epidemic. They are often reluctant to seek help from their GPs for fear that they may lose their licence. While this is understandable, it doesn’t help in the long term.
Mental health and licensing
Licensing authorities will assess a driver’s mental health against the DVLA’s Group 2 medical guidelines. Looking at the guidance, most mental health issues are unlikely to cause a driver to lose their licence. When it comes to anxiety and depression, GPs assess whether the condition causes ‘significant memory or concentration problems, agitation, behavioural disturbance or suicidal thoughts’.
Severe cases of ill mental health are likely to prompt further investigation before any decision is made regarding a licence. This is true for both driving and taxi/private hire licences. Further investigations can include a further medical assessment, a driving assessment or test and in some cases consultations with independent medical specialists.
It is important to note that being on medication for a mental health issue doesn’t usually disqualify someone from being licensed. According to DVLA guidance ‘effects of severe illness are of greater importance for their relevance to driving than medication.’
Spotting the signs
If you’re concerned that a friend, family member or colleague is suffering silently with mental health problems, there are symptoms that you can look out for:
Becoming very withdrawn
More irritated or angry
Can't sleep or sleeping a lot more
Feeling of exhaustion
Loss of appetite
A sense of hopelessness
Little interest or pleasure in doing things
Aches, pains or other physical problems
Being easily distracted or confused, including lapses in memory
Persistently sad or tearful
Having someone to talk to can make all the difference to someone suffering from mental health issues. However, it’s important that you don’t force your help on them or begin to act differently towards them. This can actually make them feel more isolated. Sometimes it’s the simple acts of kindness that are most effective. Things like picking them up a coffee, or buying lunch can go a long way to help.
More information
If you need support with your mental health, below are just some of the resources available:
Hub of Hope (A location-based search engine for mental health services)
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
If you need urgent support you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 or contact Crisis Text Line by texting SHOUT to 85258.
In the January edition of our What time you on ‘til? podcast, we will be discussing driver mental health in more detail. Hosts, JP and Ryan, will be speaking to industry safeguarding expert Rachael Bishop about what drivers can do to help protect their mental health.
If there are any questions or topics of discussion that you would like to put forward for us to discuss with Rachael, you can send an email to hello@taxiplus.co.uk or DM us @mytaxiplus on Twitter.