Maritime stakeholders must devote increased attention to seafarer mental health this year.
Stressors associated with working at sea — including isolation, lack of exercise, boredom, separation from family and friends, cross-cultural pressures, and sleep disturbances — can contribute to impaired mental health. It is crucial that vessel operators and seafarers know how to identify symptoms of mental health problems or behavioral disorders so they can be prevented or treated, even in medically underserved parts of the world.
The Seamen’s Church Institute of NY & NJ (SCI) views mental health promotion as crucial to cultivating a resilient maritime workforce. Still more work is needed to increase awareness of mental health problems with a view to preventing and treating them, as well as removing the stigma surrounding such issues. This, in turn, will reduce suicide incidence rates.
Maritime stakeholders must promote more research on seafarer mental health. Preventing and treating such problems should be based on objective evidence obtained from scientific research. Further research is needed on unique risk factors for mental health among seafarers, and the most effective methods of treatment among the seafaring population.
In addition, we need objective criteria for fitness-for-duty determinations, and which medications can be safely used by seafarers. To be effective, however, occupational health researchers must have access to medical data kept by flag states, ship operators, and P&I Clubs.
SCI is working with other humanitarian organizations to reduce suicide rates among seafarers.