During the 2025 SAFETY4SEA Manila Forum, Dr. Monique Mendoza, Cebu Branch & Telemedicine Manager, Nordic Medical Clinic, drew attention to the topic of holistic wellness and how to build resilience in the maritime industry and enhance crew wellness.
In the maritime industry, billions are invested in ship maintenance, safety protocols and technical training. Yet, one of the most vital assets of any vessel, the humans who make up the crew, receive insufficient attention when it comes to their overall wellness and resilience.
If we are to build a stronger and more sustainable maritime sector, we must prioritize the health and resilience of our seafarers as comprehensively as we maintain ships.
Redefining wellness at sea
“Wellness,” Dr. Mendoza explained, is often misunderstood. Many define it as the absence of illness, but true wellness is holistic. It includes not only physical health, but also mental, emotional, spiritual, and even financial well-being. It’s about recognizing seafarers not as a collection of systems, but as whole human beings with interconnected needs.
As part of her wellness education efforts, Dr. Mendoza shared how she often asks seafarers to rate their overall well-being on a scale of 1 to 10. This seemingly simple activity opens the door to deeper conversations—and often reveals how many crew members struggle to identify how they really feel.
“Self-awareness is important,” she noted, “but it’s not enough. Awareness gives us insight, but action moves us forward.”
The real cost of neglecting wellness
Despite strong investments in vessels and equipment, many companies still underinvest in wellness systems for seafarers. Yet the consequences are becoming more visible. A health risk classification study conducted by Nordic Medical Clinic in 2023 revealed a worrying trend: serious illnesses, such as obesity-related strokes, are emerging in much younger seafarers. One striking case involved a 21-year-old who suffered a stroke and became partially paralyzed—no longer a rare event.
Without healthy crew members, even the most advanced ships cannot function optimally. “A ship is only as strong as its crew,” Dr. Mendoza reminded the audience.
Resilience is built, not born
Resilience, often misinterpreted as simply being “tough,” is in fact the ability to adapt, recover, and grow through adversity. It is not innate—it is developed. And according to the American Psychological Association, resilience is closely tied to the resources available to a person.
For seafarers, this means access to education, mental health support, preventive care, and systems that reinforce well-being at every stage of deployment.
“We don’t become resilient in the middle of a crisis. Like athletes preparing for competition, crew members must be trained, supported, and equipped before challenges arise.”
From individual strength to community support
While personal resilience starts with self-care, Dr. Mendoza stressed that it must expand into community resilience. Seafarers are not alone—and when wellness becomes part of the culture on board, everyone benefits.
Nordic Medical Clinic (NMC) has embedded wellness education in pre-departure orientation seminars, onboard training, and even family engagement programs. In the Filipino context, involving the family—often a key source of emotional strength—supports not just the seafarer, but the household as a whole.
More importantly, companies must integrate wellness into systems and policies. “It’s not just about individual habits,” Dr. Mendoza explained. “It’s about making wellness part of how the organization operates.”
For example:
- Zero tolerance for harassment
- 24/7 access to medical and psychological support
- Peer support systems and psychological first aid training
These aren’t extras—they’re essentials. And they work. Dr. Mendoza cited a national repatriation average of 1.4% due to illness among Filipino seafarers. For one of NMC’s clients, that rate has dropped to under 1% for 4 years in a row already.
Final message: Wellness and resilience are strategic necessities
Dr. Mendoza closed with a call to action for both individuals and organizations:
“Investing in crew wellness is not a luxury, it is a strategic necessity. It is the difference between a crew that merely survives and one that thrives – and a thriving crew means a thriving maritime industry.”
Above article has been edited from Dr. Monique Mendoza’s presentation during the 2025 SAFETY4SEA Manila Forum.
Explore more by watching her video presentation here below
The views presented are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
