In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure work environments, mental health is often neglected, yet it plays a crucial role in employee well-being, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.
World Mental Health Day 2024, celebrated every year on 10th of October, brings urgent focus to the theme “It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace,” as chosen by the World Federation for Mental Health. According to the World Health Organization, over half of the global population is employed, and 15% of working-age adults experience a mental disorder. Without proper support, mental health conditions can negatively impact a person’s self-esteem, job performance, attendance, and ability to secure or maintain employment.
Individuals with severe mental health conditions often face exclusion from the workforce, despite employment being a key factor in recovery. Mental health issues not only affect individuals but also have a ripple effect on families, caregivers, colleagues, communities, and society as a whole. Depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated US$ 1 trillion annually, mainly due to decreased productivity.
Key risks include:
- Underutilization of skills or feeling unqualified for the job
- Excessive workloads, fast-paced environments, or understaffing
- Long, irregular, or inflexible working hours
- Lack of control over job design or workload
- Poor or unsafe physical working conditions
- An organizational culture that permits negative behaviors
- Insufficient support from coworkers or authoritarian management
- Experiences of violence, harassment, or bullying
- Discrimination and exclusion
- Unclear job responsibilities
- Misalignment in promotions
- Job insecurity, inadequate compensation, or lack of investment in professional growth
- Conflicts between home and work responsibilities.
Supporting seafarers’ workplace
Prioritizing mental health in the workplace is no longer optional—it’s essential for the well-being of employees and the success of organizations.
For seafarers, prioritizing mental health is even more critical due to the unique challenges they face, such as isolation, long periods away from home, and intense workloads.
Data in the “Seafarers Happiness Index 2024Q2”, showed a very slight increase to 6.99 in Q2 2024, marginally up from 6.94/10 in Q1 2024. As explained, the issue of workload is a constant challenge for seafarers. The latest responses revealed a vivid picture of well-managed experiences versus those left to struggle and battle through. On the positive side, several seafarers have found their workload manageable and even enjoyable.
However, workplace-related stressors for seafarers can include, but are not limited to:
- Seafarers often work long hours, with shifts that disrupt natural sleep patterns (e.g., watchkeeping), leading to chronic fatigue. Fatigue is a significant stressor that can heighten feelings of depression and anxiety.
- Ships often have multinational crews, where language barriers, cultural differences, and social dynamics can lead to misunderstandings, exclusion, and a sense of alienation.
- Limited access to resources or support systems, particularly when facing negative behaviors such as bullying, cultural disrespect, or sexual harassment.
- The trend toward reduced crew sizes, even on larger vessels, often adopted as a cost-cutting measure.
- Uncertainty around new technologies and regulations.
- Many seafarers face uncertain career progression.
Despite these challenges, the maritime industry is increasingly focusing on improving mental health support, fostering better communication, and providing training to create a more inclusive and supportive working environment.
By investing efforts and resources in evidence-based approaches and interventions at work, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive at work and in life. Let’s take action today for a healthier future.
…the World Health Organization urged on the occasion of World Mental Health day.
