To help the more than 246,000 truckies around the nation, leading communication and safety brand GME and Rural Outreach Counselling have officially expanded the popular âOpen Road Open Upâ initiative to Queensland.
Following a successful launch in New South Wales in 2023, truckies in the Sunshine State can now tune in to UHF CB Channel 24 as a free support network, connecting callers with mental health advocates and like-minded drivers.
One of those picking up the radio and manning Channel 24 will be Queenslandâs own outback personality, farmer and truck driver Jillaroo Jess Edwards.
“As someone who has faced their own mental health challenges, I understand the struggle of spending long hours alone with your thoughts on the road,â Ms Edwards said.
âDepression and other mental health issues can be incredibly isolating. Through Open Road Open Up, I hope to show others that they’re not alone and encourage them to reach out for support. If talking over channel 24 helps someone open up and build their own support network, then this initiative is a success. I want people to know that I’m here to listen if they need to talk.”
To equip Jess with the counselling strategies to support truckies and those in remote areas, she has received mental health resources and support through the Rural Outreach Counselling’s MateKeeper Campaign.
Rural Outreach Counselling sees firsthand the impact that long working hours, isolation, and time away from family and friends have on truck drivers, as well as others working and living in rural communities.
âMental health is one of the biggest crises affecting truckers across the nation. In fact, nearly one in two drivers have experienced some level of psychological distress,â said GME safety expert, Tony Crooke.
âWith transport being one of Queenslandâs biggest industries, we hope that our continued partnership with Rural Outreach Counselling, and Jess Edwards will help change the statistics surrounding truckiesâ mental health through the power of a UHF radio.â
