A Mental Health Story, Told By Chinese Immigrant Truck Drivers

Trucking is a dangerous and tiring job. It is a job that requires long hours on the road and is socially isolating. According to research, there are over three million truck drivers employed in the United States. Of the three million drivers, 2.3 percent are Asian with the number of Chinese truck drivers unknown. Twenty-seven percent of truck drivers experience mental health-related problems such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, and/or substance use. Chinese and Chinese immigrant truck drivers are particularly vulnerable to developing mental health issues due to immigration, socioeconomic status, and/or cultural stigma regarding mental health. This project aims to explore these issues mental health of Chinese and Chinese immigrant truck drivers and examine the labor practices of trucking companies in New York.