Michael Suson is a second-generation truck driver. With 25 years of experience under his belt, he knows pretty much everything there is to know about trucking. And he also knows that while truckers are more likely to suffer from depression than the general public, they’re not usually willing to talk about it.
Suson is the founder of a group called Truckers For Truckers. Suson’s sister, Sherry Dallas, is one of the group’s administrators. Dallas told Fleetowner that the group was created “to give truckers and their families a platform to communicate within a closed-group environment with people just like themselves facing depression.”
Dallas said that after Suson lost a few close friends to suicide, he realized that he needed to come to terms with his own depression. He started talking to other drivers about it, and that led to the creation of a Facebook group called Truckers For Truckers (Fight Against Depression And Suicide).
In just the few years since it was created, the group has grown to over 3,000 members. The group doesn’t offer medical advice, but it does supply a support system for drivers in need.
“We’re here to help drivers reach out to the people who they need to reach out to and get a medical diagnosis from their doctor if they’re having issues that are affecting their work and family life,” said Dallas.
According to the Center for Disease Control, truckers suffer from depression at higher rates than the general public. Transportation workers are also the occupation with the eighth highest suicide rate in the country.
Dallas says she understands why some truckers, including her father and brother, were reluctant to talk about it.
“My dad along with Michael were very strong, big men,” she said. “However, they were too big to admit that they had a weakness, an issue, a problem, or ask for help.”
Truckers For Truckers is a closed group on Facebook, meaning that you have to ask to be able to join. But if you’re part of a trucking family and want to start a conversation about depression for yourself, you can reach out to them here.
“The main thing that Michael has always says is that he just wants the group to be open,” Dallas said. “He wants every member to be able to reach out without judgment. Reach out, voice it, get it off of your chest, let it out before it just eats you alive. He says: ‘Your demons will eat you,’ and they will.'”
And if you want or need to talk to someone right now, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255. They’re open 24/7. Or if you’d rather not talk over the phone, you can start an online chat here.
Source: fleetowner, facebook, suicideprevention, cdc
Image Source: facebook
I think this topic is long overdue , to be discussed. I’ve been a road driver for 44 years, it seems the last 5 years have been the toughest. I’m running harder than ever just to support my family.I would be honored if I could be part of your group.
I here you I’ve been out here or for 38years. Just to hard.
Many suffer in silence because IF you admit to depression or anxiety on DOT physical you will be disqualified from Driving.
Not true! I am under medical treatment for depression and the only issue I faced was one of my prescribed meds is also used to treat seizures, which is immediate disqualification.
Although I had to get a doctor’s letter from the VA stating I do not suffer from seizures, was issued a 1 year permit.
Somewhat of a hassle to return and go through it all again next year, but that’s the way it is.
In many ways I feel the government unknowingly discriminates against those with depression seeking and or retaining a CDL, but things change.
Airline pilots have the same problem.
Having to deal with the job pressure and the never ending DOT hassles have probably contributed to an drivers depression. I do not have a solution to the problem, since the job has always had pressure and the DOT. If a driver gets too depressed that it affects his job or health, better to find another field of work.
You’re right. We live in the greatest country in the world and we don’t know how to deal with mental illness at all. Instead of diagnosing and treating disorders, the justice system simply throws people into prison for 80 years without any treatment, diagnosis, and professional counseling. We are third world, amateur hour when we should be first rate.We are not even in the ballpark when it comes to dealing with this.
My comment doesn’t need to await moderation.It is the truth. No censorship- this isn’t Russia or China!
Living on the road for months can sure make a person suffer from depression!! Sometimes working longs hours and barely making a paycheck can make you sad & depress, drive that truck right off a cliff.
Guys the problem is pay … according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a US government agency, the average yearly wage for drivers in 1970 was $26,000 per year. In terms of buying power, a driver today would need to make $149,000 per year to just equal 1970’s pay. No wonder you are depressed. The job got a great deal harder and dangerous and you are working for less than half. 50+% pay cut!
EXACTLY ….the elephant in the room that everyone avoids. I’ve heard about a supposed “Driver Shortage” for the past 22 years but in actuality there’s never been a shortage of drivers who are interested in this industry ….there’s only a shortage of drivers ignorant enough to sacrifice his health, life and home time for ridiculously low wages.
My sentiments are close to Joe, except the cliff dive! Whether it is long months or a long week… The driver must come to grips, that this is a lonely mans (ladies also) job! You do not realize it un
My sentiments are close to Joe, except the cliff dive! Whether it is long months or a long week… The driver must come to grips, that this is a lonely mans (ladies also) job! You do not realize it until… until you run across a chatty driver who ignores your signs that you have to run. Yup, we are “ALL” in the same seat!
That “chatty driver” is showing one of the first signs he/she is in the wrong profession. They are having trouble dealing with the long hours alone. I remember when the CB was full of chatter between drivers (mostly “bear reports” but we were still talking to each other). Now, about all you hear is the occasional warning about a slow down/stoppage ahead or “romper room”. We’ve electronically isolated ourselves and its taking a toll on all of us to some degree.
Maybe it’s all the blinding fog lamps
Try this one on for size, I was involved in a accident back in January which
involved a death, I was told on seen that I was not at fault passed the sobriety
test equipment inspection and paperwork was all in order,t I wasn’t charged with anything but that didn’t stop the nightmares for two months after, as soon as I
start recovering from the trama five months after the incident I receive a letter
from the SOS demanding me to attend a driver assessment the told me that my
license were suspended, I had never been involved in a situation like this had no
idea what I was walking into I though they were going to look at my habbitts
and what I could do to improve them, boy was I wrong it was an interrogation
to gather evidence against me on that meeting they pulled my license for a year
with out even looking into the other party involved, it was bad enough to kill this
person I was told this person had a mental defect I acknowledged my mistake and
what I did wrong I was totally ignorant of my rights didn’t realize I was on trial I was
totally unprepared, I can’t understand why i’m the only one looked at if this person
was mentally incompetent why wasn’t they looked at, four and half months into
this suspension I’m having trouble finding work can’t afford to insure my vehicle or tag it already been caught driving with out license I have no one to help can’t pay my bills facing eviction from my home struggling just to survive I still have two of my children living with both with learning deficits depending on me a hundred percent and now they want to charge me with impairment, I was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol I past that test with three officers witnessing it, i’m hanging on by a thread there’s no way out i’m selling off our life one piece at a
time to make ends meet suicide has crossed my mind but I try to keep it to my
self which ain’t easy when everybody can see you falling apart been to a shrink
it’s done no good the problem still remains
This is too sad. Wish I had a answer for you. Why dont you go to Facebook and ask to join and then get this out to people who are at least reading (listening). I pray you and yours will be ok and get a miracle soon.
COME ON MAN GET A LAWYER IF YOU WANT YOUR LIFE BACK
Kevin keep your chin up. I have been around awhile and know that things never stay the same(good or bad). Only our attitude or perception of things stays constant. Things will get better. So sympathetic to your getting screwed!