Trimac Transportation is partnering with Calgary-headquartered wellness app Headversity to provide mental-health and resilience training for its workers.
Truckers have been experiencing elevated levels of stress since the federal government declared trucking an essential service in Canada during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the North American transportation company.
“COVID-19 has impacted everybody,” said Kara Gillespie, vice-president of people and culture at Trimac, in a press release. “People are worried about their family, friends, community and how it will impact the economy and their jobs. We are all experiencing stress and anxiety levels higher than ever before.
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“The transportation industry has been recognized as an essential service required to keep going and deliver much-needed goods and supplies,” she added. “Without drivers, mechanics, washrack technicians and dispatchers continuing to do what they do each day, grocery store shelves would be empty, gas stations would run out of fuel and medical supplies would not get to hospitals. This is a heavy, but honourable, burden our industry carries.”
Truckers have also been finding it more difficult to access necessities like food, bathrooms and hotels while on the road during the pandemic, noted Gillespie. “This is adding to the stress of what they are already feeling during these unprecedented times.”
Through the app, Trimac employees will be able to use mental-health self-assessment and tracking tools.
“There has never been a more important time to take care of the mental health of all of our team members,” said Gillespie. “The Headversity app is the perfect tool for us to reach all of our people who are spread out geographically across North America. They can use it any time, anywhere, in private, in small or large doses and with full access to vital information and support to help them face each day feeling more empowered over their own mental health and take things one day at a time.”
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