Naomi Frauenfelder, CEO of the Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds Foundation (HHTS) encourages the trucking industry to pause and connect on R U OK? Day
The idea is for everyone across the road transport, warehousing and logistics industries to connect with friends, family and workmates on R U OK?Day, Thursday, 9th September.
HHTS is a major advocate for R U OK?Day. HHTS and R U OK? are working together on a new collaboration for 2022 aimed to empower operators in the road transport, warehousing and logistics industries in Australia to meaningfully connect and support each other.
The message for R U OK?Day 2021 is Are they really OK? Ask them today. Research by R U OK? shows that of those who recently spoke to someone about an issue that was troubling them, 75 per cent said it made them feel more supported and cared about. The simple steps to having a conversation are: ask the question, listen, encourage action, check-in (ALEC).
“Given the extreme challenges the industry has faced over the last 18 months, it’s likely that we all may know someone who might be struggling,” said Naomi. “Knowing how to ask someone how they are really going and being able to provide genuine support could make a huge difference in someone’s life.
“If you notice a change in a colleague, ask them how they’re travelling and be prepared to listen with an open mind.”
As the peak industry mental health body for the supply-chain sector, HHTS is continually working to create tools to address the key mental health risk factors that face those working in the sector. Part of this has been the development of the Healthy Heads App, an app that has been created to provide a wellbeing check-in, and improve access to mental health and physical wellbeing support and resources for truck drivers, distribution centre and warehouse staff and other road transport industry participants.
“If you’re prepared to talk to a workmate about how they’re really feeling, it could help someone who is struggling long before they’re in crisis,” said Katherine Newtown R U OK? CEO.
“We want every day to be R U OK?Day across this vital sector, and the Healthy Heads App offers an opportunity to provide anyone that is looking to maintain or improve their mental health and wellbeing, with the tools they need,” said Naomi.
Prepared to Pause and Connect on R U OK? Day. For more information on R U OK?Day, go to ruok.org.au.
To download the Healthy Heads App, go to the Apple App Store (for iPhone) and Google Playstore(for Android).
