World Mental Health Day: It’s ok to not be ok

The World Health Organisation defines mental health “as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”

This international day aims to raise awareness on mental health and put an end to the stigma that has forced many to suffer in silence. We all need to take mental health seriously and help in any way we can. Shipping industry has taken significant action toward that issue, in an effort to give seafarers’ mental wellbeing the priority that it so profoundly deserves.

#20 signs that may indicate a mental health problem

1. Changes in effectiveness at work;
2. Poor concentration
3. Eating less or more
4. Sleeping less or more
5. Drinking more
6. Changes in mood and losing your temper easily
7. Worrying constantly or imagining the worst
8. Finding it hard to make decisions
9. Feeling overwhelmed
10. Feeling tired
11. Talking less and feeling less interested in day-to-day activities
12. Sweating
13. Headaches or dizziness
14. Muscle tension or pain
15. Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
16. Frequent colds
17. Upset stomach
18. Breathlessness
19. Dry mouth
20. Nail biting

Key causes

What causes anxiety onboard cannot be exactly defined, as it often relates to multiple factors and their complex correlation. For seafarers, the demanding working environment with intense shifts and the different duties onboard is enough by itself to disrupt internal peace.

But then it comes the separation from family and loved persons which, combined with poor connectivity and multi-nationality, creates a sense of loneliness and isolation. What is more, the limited recreational activity may affect them; let us not forget that seafarers often spend their work break inside their working environment!

AMSA has provided a list summarizing the key causes of stress for seafarers:

• Separation from family-friends and loneliness onboard
• Concern over leaving loved ones behind
• Lack of good quality sleep
• Poor diet
• Port inspections
• Changing crew every few months
• Working under time pressures
• Extreme temperatures
• Heavy seas for a long period
• Claustrophobia -the fear of being enclosed in a small space

However, these are only the general factors that can objectively lead to a ‘mental health issue.’ First of all, we cannot forget that seafarers are human beings exactly as each one of us and can deal with their own personal problems and concerns, which they find harder to solve when they are far-far away.

How the industry responds

In line with a general awareness over the last years, mental health has gained an increased interest from the shipping industry comprising shipping companies, global associations, charities, P&I Clubs and others.

Let’s have a look on recent steps:

• Reflecting the growing focus on the issue, the crew wellbeing was at the heart of ‘Day of the Seafarer 2018’ on 25 June 2018.
• On the occasion of 'Day of the Seafarer 2018', the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and the World Maritime University announced a new crew welfare training programme to equip maritime professionals with key skills to support welfare onboard. Maritime Welfare (MARI-WEL) Professional Development Programme will be delivered as a distance learning course via an online portal, enabling participants to follow the programme from anywhere in the world. It constitutes the first programme of its kind to deliver a comprehensive overview of issues that relate to seafarer welfare.
• In response of this year's Day of the Seafarer 2018, members of ECSA; UK Chamber of Shipping and the Royal Dutch Shipowners Association have each launched webpages signposting seafarers to mental health charities, chaplain services and support networks.
• In a joint initiative on World Mental Health Day 2018, the American Club and Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) announced they will produce a new guide, Caring for Seafarers’ Mental Wellbeing.
• In May, UK Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) created new guidelines to help shipping companies set up policies on mental well-being.
• In partnership with MHG Insurance Brokers, ISWAN announced the launch of a survey for seafarers who work on superyachts to investigate welfare issues to this specific sector.
• The UK Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International and the National Union RMT jointly issued guidelines to shipping organizations on drawing up policies on the social, psychological and emotional well-being of the crew onboard.
• This year, UK P&I Club received the SAFETY4SEA Initiative Award, sponsored by MacGregor, for its 22 year-Crew Health/PEME Program and for further inspiring several other Clubs to follow this initiative in creating their own crew health programs.

Addressing seafarer mental health issues: Do’s & Don’ts

SAFETY4SEA has prepared the infographic below depicting Do’s & Don’ts for shipping operators who want to address and support seafarers' mental health:

A Top-10 Guide to Operators

1. Encourage staff to be open about problems they are facing.
2. When they do talk, listen, be respectful and do not make assumptions.
3. Emphasize more on confidentiality.
4. Encourage involvement on decision-making and finding solutions.
5. Focus on Fatigue Management by incorporating it to SMS.
6. Focus more on what employees can do and less on what they cannot
7. Praise good work.
8. Increase the levels of support seafarers receive while onboard.
9. Encourage staff to seek further advice and support (for example from buddying or mentoring schemes).
10. Educate and familiarize crews on personal resilience.

A Top-10 Guide to Seafarers

1. Exercise: Exercise can clear your thoughts and get into a better state of mind to deal with your problems.
2. Rest well: Take time for yourself, relax or connect with others on board.
3. Eat well: A healthy diet is the A and Z to a sense of wellbeing.
4. Socialize: Spend time with others. This can give anyone a sense of time out and can be a good distraction.
5. Identify what is causing you stress: A list of stressful can relieve some pressure, while talking it over with someone trustworthy can also be beneficial. ISWAN and Shipowners Club have issued a roadmap for identifying the causes of stress. and an infographic for managing your worries.
6. Get a quality sleep: set an alarm at a regular time each day, avoid computer and when you go to bed, and use your bed mainly for sleep.
7. Distract yourself: Take your mind off your worries by keeping busy and finding something else to do
8. Take a breath: Learn about the technique of controlled breathing.
9. Don’t keep problems to yourself: Share your problems with a person which is close to you, even onboard or ashore.
10. Give to others: Even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word.

This is as much as the seafarer can do for theirselves. Wellbeing is a personal issue to some extent, but conditions can also be impactful.

On Mental Health Day 2018 we'd like to remind all people to put their well-being first. However, sending positive thoughts and supporting anyone struggling with mental health issues should not be limited only to that day.

In this context, we should always work together to give people the support they need and have empathy for those struggling. Notable efforts so far demonstrate that shipping is part of the action toward destigmatizing mental health and improving wellbeing across the industry!