With one in five van drivers describing their current mental health as poor or very poor, Van Excellence has launched a campaign in partnership with CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) to raise awareness of, and address, mental health stigma. CALM is a charity working to prevent male suicide by campaigning for a culture change around issues of masculinity and mental health.
Arnold Clark Vehicle Management is one of the first companies to sign up to Van Excellence's new scheme, which means all our drivers will receive a support pack containing important information about mental health. The leaflets and brochures within the packs have information about spotting the signs and symptoms of a mental health condition, and where people can go to get the support they need. In association with Van Excellence, the packs have been curated by CALM's top mental health advisors.
We hope these driver packs will normalise mental health discourse and open up conversations around notoriously difficult-to-talk-about issues.
As a company, the Arnold Clark Group is committed to CALM's campaign and we want to play our part in tackling mental health stigma. We recently launched 'Space', an online platform where Arnold Clark staff can find information to help support their physical and mental wellbeing. We're also partners with Ben, an independent charity dedicated to supporting automotive industry workers and their families.
David Cooper, Managing Director of Arnold Clark Finance, said: 'We're delighted to partner with Van Excellence for a cause that's so close to our hearts. At Arnold Clark Vehicle Management, we are committed to addressing the mental health stigma and want to reassure our customers and staff that it's okay to talk about how they're feeling. We hope these packs will normalise mental health and encourage our customers to open up if they're struggling with anything'.
CALM's free, anonymous and confidential helpline and webchat are open seven days a week, 5pm until midnight.
Remember, you can also call the Samaritans for free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Just call 116 123, or email at jo@samaritans.org You don't need to be feeling suicidal to chat to them, whatever you're going through, there's always somebody who wants to listen.
