I have often promoted myself as a mental health advocate. I have been asked many times what that means. I thought it was pretty clear, but maybe it isn’t.
What does it mean to be an advocate?
There are three definitions, and basically, they all mean the same thing. An advocate is someone who promotes a particular cause, group or person.
So as a mental health advocate I have lobbied on behalf of others who deal with mental health challenges. I have done this through speeches, podcasting and by just keeping my eyes open as I go through my life.
I do so because I’ve been there. At my lowest point a therapist put her finger on my chest and reminded me to be who I am. A helper to the weak, a guy who tried to raise others up. A teacher. I’m not bragging. It’s who I am. I’ve just tried to follow the path laid out for me.
I am quite passionate about caring for others and it makes my blood boil when I see disrespect toward other people.
If you have read any of my articles you will have realized that I don’t hold back much when I’m advocating for a certain cause. I’ve been very blunt in my assessment of how the industry treats drivers from a mental health standpoint.
Tough being a truck driver
It’s tough being a truck driver. Isolation from loved ones, ridiculous deadlines, weather, an unappreciative public and enough red tape to choke out all the fun-loving spirit.
Being an advocate is no dancing through the tulips either.
As an advocate you can become the target for those wanting to find fault. As an advocate you must be strong and sure of what you’re doing. Many advocates have burned themselves out while trying to help others. You take on the burdens of many others, while still carrying your own.
I’m not as active an advocate as I have been in years past. Life doesn’t stop. My focus has shifted local since I don’t travel as much anymore. Nothing in the mental health arena is simple.
I can’t rail and rant about mental health to any one group. I can’t put all the blame on the C-Suite suits, or middle managers or frontline workers. A CEO does make a huge difference in the company’s approach to mental health issues, but it’s not that simple.
It is really tough. A driver blows up and verbally abuses a fleet manager. An office worker gets under the skin of others. An auditor or DOT officer nitpicks every little issue on a truck, even the ones that don’t make the roads safer. The mental health of everyone around them suffers, including their own.
What do you do?
Don’t punish the symptom
Quite often we punish the symptom. It’s the low hanging fruit. The driver gets suspended, the office worker who’s bullied gets in trouble for reacting and tickets get written by the spiteful officer.
That’s not the root cause of the problem though. Some years ago, a HR person was surprised when I suggested that a driver may have personal issues causing outbursts. The driver supervisor sat down with the driver and found the root of the problem and got help for the driver. That’s a driver that will now feel appreciated and be in a better mental place.
It’s hard to remember to look for the root cause when there’s trouble. It is not simple. None of us get this right all the time. It’s very humbling.
Working with and advocating for people takes a lot of work, digging in to find the real problems, bringing people together and finding common ground to lift all up.
What has me thinking this way of late?
The passing of Joanne Mackenzie, the founder of Trucking for a Cure. She was a breast cancer survivor and tough as nails – an amazing lady. We talked on the phone and met up at trucking events. It was always a great conversation. She was a true warrior for her cause who never gave up.
Rest in peace, Joanne.
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