Mental health group Mentality reaches out to taxi drivers struggling during the pandemic

Mental health group Mentality have reached out to taxi drivers struggling during the pandemic.

According to Matt Lockett, in the midst of the breaking news of the pandemic in April 2020 the Founder of Mentality, Sam Lee-Tracy, rounded up the troops and set out trying to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. Here Matt tells us more of what followed.

The effects of adverse Mental Health and suicide have become a worldwide crisis, WHO (The World Health Organisation) have predicted that 2021 will see a huge increase in suicides, raising the tragic number to one every 20 seconds.

Matt Lockett said: “With the current pandemic keeping the world locked in and adding to the peak of mental illness, we launched a new support group to bring comfort to those who are feeling alone, a voice to those who have no-one and encouragement to communities to unite as one.

“We pride ourselves on delivering one key element to those who are struggling with mental illness - time! Unfortunately this is something that is not very common in the modern world. We position ourselves as a first port-of-call for anyone seeking professional help.

“We have 10 dedicated members who have overcome particular mental health battles,

allowing us to offer careful, considered advice. We also have links to mental health professionals, so we can signpost those who need immediate intervention.

“Funds received through crowdfunding is utilised to offer paid consultations with private professional mental health advisors and psychologists. We also offer six online exercise sessions with our preferred fitness company; all paid for with the funding we receive.

“In addition to professional help offered, we also provide food vouchers for families who are struggling financially.

“Our aim is to provide tailored help for each individual, as we believe a more personalised service is much more valuable.”

Mentality’s Matt Lockett chatted to fellow trustee Tim Morse, who also works as a black cab driver, with the hope that his insight might be of value to other cabbies.

What has life been like as a black cab driver the past year?

“Well to be honest with you, life as a black cab driver over the past year has been non-existent, I’ve had to adapt and do a new job, so to be honest with you I haven’t really done anything the past year. I do know from the fellas that have been out, it has been very, very... very hard. A lot of guys out there can’t get their rent for stuff, we depend on a lot of people coming into the country and that’s been shut down, it’s been very, very hard.”

How have you managed without the source of income?

“Well... this is the thing, you have to adapt and change with the times for the current situation that you’re in. Personally I have gone back to my old job, as a floor layer, which I didn’t want to do, also delivering kitchens for Howdens. It was a case of sink or swim, and as I say we have to adapt, I’ve had to go and do other things, it’s as simple as that really to keep your head above water. Luckily I did my tax returns and managed to get a government grant which has helped.”

Do you intend to pick it back up when the world restores some sort of normality? Why?

“I’d like to think that there will be a job to go back to, I think the pandemic will have a slight change on the way things are done, the cab trade has changed in the last 10 years since I’ve been doing it, you have to go with the times. Definitely yes, I will go back to it, I worked 5 years part time, doing the Knowledge, having two young kids, so blood, sweat and tears went into it and I wouldn’t give it up now. I wouldn’t take it for granted as much, I think the lockdown has made me realise I didn’t have a bad job, so I will give it another good go, I pray that there is a future for the cab trade.”

Do you know of anyone still working as a cab driver? If so how are they coping?

“Yes I do, I speak to them quite regularly, I spoke to a guy today, I won’t say his name but he is struggling big time. He’s been working throughout this whole thing and he’s doing 5 hours on St Pancras when it’s usually only 30-45mins. He wrapped around a £70k Electric Taxi, which is what the Government are pushing you into, and it creates pressure, you’ve got all this money to find when there’s no work out there, so I know some of the guys are really finding it tough. You’re doing double the hours, some days you’re lucky some days you’re not, I really feel for these guys!”

Tell me a bit about the social aspect of being a cabbie, do you miss seeing your colleagues and of course the customers?

“Even though you’re in the cab alone a lot of the time, personally I work out of Heathrow quite a lot, and the social aspect is a massive thing for me, especially up the Airport. I’ve got to know a lot of guys over the years, a lot of characters as well, a lot of older guys who have been doing the job a long time, and I sit there and pick their brains about the old days. I’ve made a lot of good friends and I do miss that banter side of it, as it does take the edge off the job. When you’re at Heathrow waiting for a job, cab drivers will know what I’m talking about. Even meeting friends after a shift for a cup of tea catching up on the day’s events and stuff, it’s good to sit there and break a bit of bread with them. The characters up at Heathrow I really do miss, there’s some real good guys out there.”

Is there a future for black cab drivers?

“This is the million dollar question, personally I don’t know and that’s the scary thing about it. We’ve been London’s life blood for over 300 years, I’d like to think so much that yes there is, it would be a shame if we became extinct. We’ve been treated so badly by the Government and all the mayors that have been before us, Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson and Sadiq Khan, they want our votes to get them into power, and then they seem to just cast us aside, they see us as surplus to requirements. A lot of cab drivers you might speak to, say it’s a race to the bottom, I like to look at the glass half full, I know the amount of cab drivers are going down, it makes me think there might be more work for those of us that are left. If the Government don’t help us out a little bit more, then for the first time in my life I’m thinking we might be in danger. Since Moses wore short trousers, every cab driver would say, give it up son and now I’m actually getting a little bit worried. I do hope it isn’t the end, because we are the best cab service in the world there’s no doubt about that.”

Has being part of Mentality helped you the past year? Why?

“I’ve got to be honest, since I’ve been asked to join the group, Mentality has helped me massively. It has helped me to be able to discuss things that I go through and not just to help others, we help and encourage each other. Whether it’s fitness advice or mental health information, I can go to any one of the team and get support, in that respect it’s great and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

What would be your advice to fellow black cab drivers to help them get through these tough times?

“My advice would be... this is a difficult one because I know how hard it is out there... Any spare time you can get, any time, I would say get out and do some exercise. Whether it’s swimming, running or boxing, something just to break up that shift, because at the moment you’re doing long hours and it is a mental stress, thinking about all the bills and looking after your children. If you do get any spare time, get out for a walk or a run and make yourself feel a little bit bouncier.”