Mental Health Awareness in the World of Logistics

By: Chelsea Koutroulis, M.Ed., LPC-Associate, CST
Supervised by Megan Pollock, MS, LPC-S, CST

Mental health in the logistics industry is a growing concern with its own unique challenges that can significantly impact mental well-being.

This is a topic not often brought up, yet it affects everyone at some point in their lives; and this includes individuals that work in the logistics industry, if not more than the average person. Challenges those employed in the logistics industry face can range from high stress and high pressure to complex problem solving and fatigue. Prolonged periods of stress can then foster burnout if not properly managed. A few roles that experience this are project managers, logistics coordinators, sales representatives, warehouse workers, truck drivers, seafarers, and pricing/operations. This list does not include all roles affected in the logistics industry.

A 2023 report entitled ‘Health and Well-being in the Workplace’ by Randstad documented that 27% of the logistics workers they surveyed did have what they deemed unmanageable stress or mental health conditions in the previous 12 months before the survey. Out of those same respondents, 19% informed the survey that they were in fact planning in the next 12 months to leave the profession because of it. Breakbulk Magazine, Issue 2, also published that around 27% of individuals working in the transportation and logistics sector experienced specific mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

Daily challenges in the logistics industry

For the logistics industry, a daily challenge can be made up of tight deadlines, delayed shipments, weather obstacles, customs issues, problem solving, long hours, isolation, sales rejection, coordinating the complexities of domestic/international shipments, shortages, managing budgets, and surviving the various emotions thrown at them from colleagues, clients, and vendors. In some roles, the employee will experience all of this in just a few days.

Not properly maintaining one’s mental health with these challenges can potentially directly affect job performance such as concentration, decision making skills, low productivity, and many other crucial aspects in logistics. This can then lead to burn out, fatigue, absenteeism, distress, and turnover especially with prolonged daily exposure. A & S Recruitment emphasized this in a recent article by outlining the logistics industry as a fast paced and highly pressurized environment where work needs to be completed in a timely and accurate manner, thus creating a ‘boiler room’ atmosphere that places stress on employees across all disciplines in logistics. Now, let us also recognize that there are resilient individuals who thrive in these environments; But that shouldn’t eliminate the mental health interference felt by others.

The key outlook within logistics is to achieve the smooth movement of goods and projects in the pursuit of efficiency and accuracy.

The expectation to quickly solve problems and the high stakes of delayed or disrupted supply chains contribute to elevated stress. This includes the demand for rapid decision making in response to unexpected challenges. This constant decision-making pressure can eventually bring about mental fatigue, anxiety, and burnout over time.

Working in these high-stress roles has also been associated with an elevated risk of suicide compared to the general employed population according to a Meta-Analysis, systematic review published in the National Library of Medicine in 2022 by Mathieu S, et al. Keep in mind that many of these roles in the logistics industry are male dominated and the suicide rates among men in the general public are very high, being the single largest killer of men under the age of 45. Specific symptoms of isolation, fatigue, negative self-talk, and long hours can be linked to depression and feelings of loneliness; all strong contributors of Suicidal Ideation. Irregular hours, especially with international shipments, can also make it difficult to foster a healthy work-life balance, leading to strained relationships and burnout. Additionally, the irregular hours can throw off circadian rhythms and lead to sleep difficulties that aggravate preexisting mental health conditions.

Those that work solely remotely in the logistics industry, or alone majority of the time, may also have amplified symptoms and exacerbate mental health problems.

Add to that the management of unpredictable factors, deadline driven pressures, or even port closures that continue to add to the individuals personal stress and anxiety. Mates in Mind, a UK charity raising awareness by addressing the stigma of poor mental health, published that the transport, shipping, and logistics sector has the highest level of absenteeism within private sector industries, with stress being a major contributing factor. A recent nationally covered incident of port strikes partially brought on by the ever-lurking fear of displacement due to automation in the logistics industry is a perfect example of work/life stress, worry, and intrusive emotional thoughts that can feel outside the person’s control and cause absenteeism. This incident affected the industry whether you worked behind a desk, drove a truck, or managed shipments/projects on-site.  

Supporting mental health in the logistics industry is essential for creating a resilient and effective workforce. By prioritizing mental health resources and fostering a culture that values well-being, companies can help logistics professionals manage the unique challenge of the industry. Reducing burnout and supporting mental health can also lead to better performance, improved retention, and a more engaged workforce, benefiting both the employees and the organization. 

Helpful Tips from a Psychotherapist:

• Some subtle signs of stress can include headaches, digestive issues, fatigue, and low libido.
• Triaging your workload or daily tasks/surprises can help with time management because it is harder to cope and not be overwhelmed when everything ‘looks red’. You can even try to address the less appealing tasks first for a sense of relief that will take the weight off the rest of the day. What weighs more? Out of a combined 100lbs, what weight would you assign to each task? Target the heaviest first so the weight and pressure lessens. 
• Taking a few minutes for yourself during the day can help prevent burnout. You can accomplish this by taking a walk down the hall, stretching, changing the scenery, listening to a podcast, or watching a video to give yourself a relaxing pause. 
• Learning mindfulness and relaxation techniques can help calm anxiousness, intrusive thoughts, and stress. Take a few seconds to look out a window, listen to a song, stay out of workplace gossip, or use the 54321-Grounding Technique. This technique uses the five senses: sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste. This can be utilized when you feel stressed, anxious or get triggered: Acknowledge 5 things you can see, feel 4 things you can touch, listen for 3 things you can hear, sniff 3 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. This becomes easier with practice. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues related to the logistics industry, available resources to help include:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – offers education and support to individuals living with mental illness. Resources include support groups, education, and advocacy programs to help find the support needed. 
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – A government agency that operates confidential and anonymous behavioral health treatment referral services. This includes resources on mental health and substance abuse treatment options along with crisis support services. 
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) – Promotes mental health in logistics by providing private counseling services. Access is a benefit provided by some companies, but not all. Contact your employer’s benefits manager or HR representative for information. 
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Local crisis centers within this national network provide free and confidential support to individuals in emotional or suicidal distress. This service is offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or Text 988.