Mental Health Matters – Removing The Stigma…Together
September 28th, 2022
We know that it can be a lonely old life out on the road as a truck driver. We also know that sometimes the hardest word to say is “help”. Here at Edge, we have supported staff through personal difficulties including anxiety, depression and PTSD. We have also invested in Mental Health First Aid courses for members of our team, and worked hard to create a culture of caring within our family firm.
Male suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK. Andy’s Man Club is a charity specifically aimed at suicide prevention in men, by giving them a free safe space to talk without criticism or judgement. The first meeting, in July 2016, was attended by nine men; the charity now holds meetings in over a hundred locations, and recently saw 2170 men in attendance, 280 of which were newcomers. We have organised a session for our team with Andy’s Man Club in October, and look forward to chatting with them about what they do.
Year round, all of our staff have free access to Health Shield, a medical cash benefit scheme which provides access to a 24/7 helpline, online mental health resources and virtual counselling, as well as contributing to medical treatment costs.
And for those who prefer to speak to someone in person, we’ve partnered with local counsellor, Estar, to offer company funded counselling sessions for any member of staff who needs it.
It has been a tough few years for everyone, and we are so pleased that mental health is being talked about more openly. World Mental Health Day 2022 will take place on 10th October and we’d encourage all of our followers to check out the World Health Organization’s mental health resources here. It’s okay to not be okay.
