Mental health and wellbeing are issues playing out regardless of whether they are ashore or onboard. The way a crew member may experience life onboard with other seafarers, himself or his workload is thus related to him or her as individual, multi-dimensional human being.
Industry has realized the importance of ‘Wellness at Sea’ and has shed its focus on addressing its key aspects: Social, Emotional, Physical, Intellectual and Spiritual
Strategy, motivation, support and engagement are the keys to a successful approach!
Empower your social wellbeing
- Be part of conversations onboard
- Encourage other crew members
- Participate in the social life onboard
- Assist others with positive reinforcement
Empower your emotional wellbeing
- Understand and manage your emotions
- Share your thoughts and ideas with other crew members
- Show care for others
- Think positive
Empower your physical wellbeing
- Keep a healthy diet
- Exercise every day
- Challenge yourself with new goals and activities
- Stay hydrated
Empower your intellectual wellbeing
- Spend time reading books
- Keep updated with world news
- Communicate and share perspectives
- Know your rights
Empower your spiritual wellbeing
- Find shipmates with whom you share common views
- Acknowledge others point of view
- Dedicate time to your spiritual needs
- Speak to a port chaplain
Industry Awareness
- Sailors’ Society has developed the “Wellness at Sea” coaching programme featuring a free app
- Steamship’s Mutual DVD ‘Fit for Life’ addresses Physical Wellness
- A BBC short film addresses the shipboard emotional pressures
- HRAS issued ‘Managing Traumatic Stress – Guidance for Maritime Organizations’
- ISWAN offers immediate response to seafarers via its 24-hour multilingual helpline SeafarerHelp
- ISWAN’s series of ‘Good Mental Health’ Guides focus on positive mental health & psychological wellbeing
- Mission to Seafarers publishes the ‘Seafarers Happiness Index’