Mr McGrath will talk about depression and anxiety in the Australian trucking industry.
ATA Chairman, Trevor Martyn said that mental health in the trucking industry may not have received the attention it deserves.

“Trucking has always been seen as a robust industry, characterised by independence, entrepreneurship, toughness and resilience. But we must realise our people are not immune to suffering from depression and mental illness,” he said.

A recent Beyond Blue media campaign focusing on the effects of drought on the health and well-being of farming communities struck a chord with the trucking community.

“Our industry’s roots are in rural and regional Australia and a great number of trucking companies continue to be affected financially by the drought,” Mr Martyn said.

“It is thanks to the work of Beyond Blue that depression and anxiety are being considered as a potential risk to maintaining a skilled workforce in the industry.”

Beyond Blue is an initiative of the commonwealth, state and territory governments to help the Australian community to prevent depression and respond effectively to sufferers.

The initiative aims to reduce the stigma surrounding depression and mental illness by increasing awareness of the symptoms, causes and treatments and by promoting the experiences of people whose lives have been affected.

Beyond Blue works with medical professionals, promotes research and has strong partnerships with mental health and other health related organisations, as well as a wide range of companies and community organisations.

“We hope Mr McGrath’s address at the Australian Trucking Convention will help members of the trucking industry realise that depression can affect anyone at any time and that help is available to them,” Mr Martyn said.