Ian “Eno” Taylor knows what it feels like to no longer want to be alive.
His father (and best friend) died when Eno was just 20 years old – sending him on a downward spiral to the point where he attempted to end his life and wound up in a mental health facility.
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The ups and downs of life have seen him work as a pastry chef, tackle long-distance coach driving, truck driving, marriage, children, and a marriage breakdown that hit him hard and prompted a call to Lifeline.
The challenges of being away all week, then coming home for just a few days before hitting the road again, had taken a toll on his mental health and his marriage, with his wife forced to effectively be a “single mum”.
“Calling Lifeline was probably one of the best phone calls I ever made,” Eno says. “I still remember their voice. It makes you remember, no matter how tough things are, you’re never alone.”
That call to Lifeline was the start of a change for Eno, inspiring him to seek better support as he continued to work in the transport game.
When, in 2021, he lost three truckie mates to suicide, including close work colleague Mark Haines, he decided it was time to take a bigger stand on mental health and helped to organise the Grinding Gears and Burning Diesel convoy in Coffs Harbour in memory of his mates and in support of Lifeline.
The convoy, which Eno says he thought would attract 15 trucks as a farewell for a colleague, attracted 102 trucks, raised $12,000 and put the spotlight on the mental health challenges faced by those working in the transport industry.
It was also the start of Eno’s volunteering work as an ambassador for Lifeline North Coast and a presenter for charity group Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds — work he does outside of his regular role transporting oversized loads.
With lived experience of life on the road and the mental challenges that come with it, Eno has plenty of empathy for others who find themselves struggling on life’s journey.
As the traffic winds up for the school holidays and the challenges of juggling family, Christmas and work deadlines start to arise, he says it’s important for those working in the transport game to “take a breath” and be patient.
Based in Coffs Harbour, Eno says he knows firsthand how frustrating that stretch of road in particular can be for all drivers as they are forced to slow down and deal with hills and traffic lights through the centre of town while the wait continues for the bypass to open in 2026.
“It’s a nightmare trying to get through Coffs Harbour at holidays,” he says.
As traffic queues and time ticks away, Eno says it’s too easy for tempers to flare – and he tells truckies coming through at these times to turn off their UHF radios and just do their jobs, rather than joining heated discussions about the state of the roads and holiday travellers.
“There’s a lot of people on the road and they are people who don’t spent a lot of time on the highways,” he says.
“Just breathe. Don’t try and control the things that are out of our control. Try and manage yourself, look after yourself.
“Understand you might get there half an hour or an hour late — there’s nothing you can do about it.”
And for those who find themselves lonely or out of sorts at any time, particularly over Christmas, he urges them to pick up the phone and talk to family, friends, or Lifeline.
“I tell people that Lifeline shouldn’t only be the call you make when you’re right on the edge,” Eno says.
“Don’t wait to call your family, friends or support. Pick up the phone and call, before it gets too far.”
He says there are counsellors there who will talk to anyone who calls, who understand how challenging life can be at times, and who will listen and help where they can.
As for how Eno is now, he says he is very aware of his mental health, has regular visits with a GP and accesses counselling too.
“Finding a GP is a bit like buying a new car – you need to shop around to find the one that is the best fit for you,” he says.
For Eno, that was the doctor who listened to his concerns and guided him in the direction of a counsellor to talk things through, rather than simply prescribing anti-anxiety medication.
Having found himself a good GP and work that allows him to be home most nights, Eno says his mental health and family life has improved.
As for the challenges truckies face in today’s transport world, Eno says technology and progress is in a way making it harder for those on the road.
He says with the better highways and bypasses, there’s less reason to stop, and a lot of the contact drivers used to have with their favourite truck stop staff in country towns had gone.
“The industry has changed a lot in the last 15 years ,with all these bypasses that have been put in place,” he says.
“I remember there was a 24/7 takeaway shop at Woodburn where, whether it was 3am or 3pm, they’d say ‘G’day Eno – do you want one beetroot sandwich or two?’
“Now, on the major highways – you’re all of a sudden customer 23.”
Another point of contact for truckies is at distribution centres, where regular forklift drivers are often there to unload and have a chat. But the automation of forklift work at major centres has left drivers without that one-on-one contact too, Eno says. “Those opportunities for interaction are getting less and less.”
While there are certainly challenges working against mental health in the transport industry, the passion and the care of those working in the space, such as those showing up on weekends to support convoys like the one Eno organised in Coffs Harbour, show transport workers themselves have stories to share and big hearts when it comes to helping mates in need.
To access on-hand support for people in the transport, warehousing and logistics sector, download the Healthy Heads App or go to healthyheads.org.au.
To all of our readers, be safe this Christmas, and remember, if you do feel a bit lonely, pick up the phone, call a friend, a family member, or the team at Lifeline (13 11 14) and let them hear what you have to say.
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