Shedding Light on Seafarer Mental Health for a Safer Maritime Industry

Shedding Light on Seafarer Mental Health for a Safer Maritime Industry
Sue Terpilowski June 12, 2023 https://seanews.co.uk/safety-security/shedding-light-on-seafarer-mental-...

The mental well-being of seafarers can be quite challenging due to the nature of their work environment, characterised by long hours, isolation, fatigue and the inherent instability of the job. These factors can potentially lead to feelings of loneliness and depression among seafarers. In the maritime industry, there is often a lack of awareness about mental health, which contributes to a misunderstanding of the difficulties faced by seafarers.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the obstacles for seafarers, as there was a significant decline in imports and exports in the EU maritime sector in 2020. According to the European Maritime Safety Agency, EU seaborne trade experienced a more substantial decline than global trade, with a 9.3% reduction throughout 2020, amounting to a loss of 226 million tonnes of trade. The pandemic also triggered a crew change crisis, leaving many seafarers stranded at sea or on land. This worsened the already isolated nature of their job.

Suicide is sometimes an unfortunate outcome of the mental health challenges faced by seafarers. It is not seen as an isolated event within the maritime industry but rather as a consequence of the isolation, depression, and anxiety prevalent in the industry. Traumatic incidents experienced by the crew can contribute to deteriorating mental health among seafarers in general. Additionally, there is underreporting of suicide cases within the industry, mainly due to uncertainty surrounding the circumstances.

In July of last year, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in the UK introduced a new digital tool called the Wellbeing at Sea Tool to assist seafarers in addressing their mental health issues. This tool is part of the government’s nine-point plan to enhance the long-term working conditions of seafarers. It functions as a survey that seafarers can complete, providing personalised advice on how to improve their well-being at sea. The anonymised data collected by the tool is then shared with managers to help identify priority areas for improvement and promote best practices.

The objective of this resource is to foster a supportive culture where individuals collectively feel responsible for maintaining safety and are empowered to voice their concerns. It enhances seafarers’ self-esteem, autonomy and overall safety and provides an understanding of how seafarer fatigue, stress, and mental health contribute to the onboard culture.

Although mental health support services are available for seafarers, the stigma surrounding mental health remains a significant barrier that prevents some from seeking help. Many maritime organisations offer remote resources that seafarers can utilise, such as mental health training videos, which can be accessed privately. Seably, which creates online training for those in the maritime industry and has specific training courses for mental health and well-being. WellAtSea is also a digital platform that provides seafarers with mental health resources. The International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network provides a 24/7 helpline for seafarers and provides global aid. Furthermore, to address the issue of limited resource accessibility at sea, seafarers can carry self-help guides and audio relaxation exercises with them as coping mechanisms. These efforts made by both the UK government and maritime companies can help improve the well-being of seafarers and create a more inclusive and understanding space within the maritime industry.