Is there a link between van driving and poor mental health?

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Published: 18 Mar 2026 | Last reviewed: 18 Mar 2026 | Reviewed by: VanCompare Editorial Team

Van driving can be rewarding, but the job often comes with long hours, time pressure, traffic, and working alone. A commissioned survey published during Mental Health Awareness Week 2017 (research commissioned by Mercedes-Benz Vans) reported that 1 in 5 van drivers described their mental health as “poor” or “very poor”. [1]

That finding isn’t the same as a clinical diagnosis or an official national statistic — but it does point to something many drivers recognise: the working pattern can put strain on wellbeing.

Why van work can feel mentally tougher than people expect

Van driving often combines several stressors at once:

• Tight schedules and pressure to keep moving
• Traffic and delays you can’t control
• Working alone for long stretches
• Physical fatigue from loading, unloading, and lots of stops
• Admin overload (routes, parking, deliveries, customer calls)

In the 2017 survey write-up, many respondents linked poor mental health to work factors such as time pressure and workload. [1][2]

Work-related stress is a wider UK issue too

The Health and Safety Executive’s latest headline statistics report 964,000 workers experiencing work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2024/25 (Great Britain). [3]

Early warning signs to watch for

People experience stress and poor mental health differently, but common signs include:

• Feeling on edge, irritable, or overwhelmed most days
• Sleep problems (too little, too much, or broken sleep)
• Struggling to concentrate, remember things, or make decisions
• Withdrawing from friends/family or avoiding conversations
• Relying more on alcohol, stimulants, or “pushing through” without breaks

If these feelings are persistent or getting worse, it’s a sign to seek support.

Practical steps that can help

These won’t suit everyone — but many drivers find small changes add up:

• Plan for pressure points: build in buffer time for traffic, loading, and parking so every delay doesn’t become a crisis.
• Take proper breaks: even short stops away from the cab can reduce stress and fatigue.
• Stay connected: a quick check-in with a colleague, friend or family member can counter isolation.
• Talk early (if you can): if work is a factor, raising it early with a manager/client can be easier than waiting for burnout.
• If you’re self-employed: consider what you can control (job volume, routes, realistic time windows, and rest days).

Where to get help in the UK

If you or someone else needs support, you don’t have to handle it alone:

• Urgent help (crisis): NHS guidance explains where to get urgent mental health help, including when it’s an emergency. View source
• Samaritans (24/7): call 116 123 (UK & ROI). View source
• Mind: directory of mental health helplines and support options. View source

If there’s immediate danger to life, call 999.

Sources

1. WhatVan (10 May 2017) — “One in five van drivers suffer mental health problems”: View source
2. The Van Expert (9 May 2017) — “Mental health of van drivers explored in new research”: View source
3. HSE — Key figures for Great Britain 2024 to 2025 (work-related stress headline stats): View source
4. NHS — Where to get urgent help for mental health: View source
5. Samaritans — Contact a Samaritan (includes 116 123): View source
6. Mind — Mental health helplines: View source
7. Driving for Better Business (9 Feb 2018) — Contextual discussion of survey findings: View source

VanCompare Editorial Team

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