Supporting Truckers Through Mental Health and Substance Abuse with Scott Busby, Praesum Health

Your mental health as a trucker is just as important as your physical health behind the wheel, but it often gets overlooked or pushed aside due to shame, fear, and a litany of other emotions that we often want to hide.  As the first episode of Season 5, we could not have come out of the gate with a more important topic. Zac and Chelsea speak with Scott Busby, Director of Admissions at Praesum Healthcare, a leader in mental health and drug & alcohol treatment services along the East Coast.  They discuss Praesum's programs that cater directly to truckers, including an intricate support system in person and online, the mental health challenges truck drivers face, and the interconnection between substance abuse and mental health. Scott shares some real-life stories from truckers and comments on the importance of employer support.   In this episode, you’ll learn: The unique mental health challenges truck drivers face and the specialized resources available to help How interconnected the nature of substance abuse and mental health is, how it illustrates how drivers can fall into the trap of addiction and what steps they can take to recover The importance of understanding medication effects and the need for better education to prevent accidental violations Employer support and the steps you can take to ensure you get the help you need   Resources: Praesum Healthcare: https://www.praesumhealthcare.com/  Scott Busby’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-busby-6a9044bb/  Scott Busby’s email: [email protected]  Reach Scott via phone: 561-884-3869 Safe Harbor Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/safeharbormentalhealthsupportnetwork    Connect with Zac, Chelsea, and HandledNow: HandledNow’s website - www.handlednow.com HandledNow’s Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/handlednow1  Zac’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-elsts-981953108/  Chelsea’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-faulkner-6673288b/    Jump into the conversation: 00:00 Welcome to Drive Season Five 01:00 Introduction to Scott Busby, Praesum Healthcare 07:02 Truck drivers' unique challenges and personal reflection 09:21 Providing comprehensive mental health care with dignity 13:59 Normalize second chances, support for employees' well-being 18:21 Supportive community providing mental health education 22:56 Perception of truck driving and changing attitudes 28:42 Media diversity is needed to avoid bias 30:09 Diverse treatment options for addiction recovery available 35:36 Stigma around mental health is improving 36:42 Encouraging conversation and support for mental health 40:57 Adapting to mental health treatment is challenging 44:14 Dealing with safety-sensitive issues in employment 48:26 Medical industry lacks education for medication effects