Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Friday, September 29, 2023
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    lessons learned

    Lessons learned: ENCs can be inaccurate for many reasons

    lessons learned Nautical

    Lessons learned: Crew should be aware of the most efficient fire fighting methods

    ITF recovers multi-million sum of owed wages

    ITF recovers multi-million sum of owed wages

    Houston Ship Channel

    Houston Pilots: Vessels must override their power limiter to avoid navigational risks

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    thinking out of the box

    Thinking out of the box: 5 tips for creative thinking

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Book Review: A role model for ship managers

    Book Review: How we perceive and deal with luck in life and business

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    Do you know why ballasting and deballasting are vital for a ship?

    Gard Club: Ballast water management regulations are tightening

    The first LNG bunkering facility to be available in US Gulf from 2026

    The first LNG bunkering facility to be available in US Gulf from 2026

    73% of stakeholders view net zero as a strategic priority

    73% of stakeholders view net zero as a strategic priority

    Skarv Shipping orders up to eight low carbon MPVs vessels

    Skarv Shipping orders up to eight low carbon MPVs vessels

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    mpa singapore port

    Just in Time Platform effective from October in Singapore

    Two COSCO companies issue their first electronic bills of lading

    Two COSCO companies issue their first electronic bills of lading

    Jotun Hellas pioneers vessel maintenance and safety with novel Aerial Drone Inspection Service

    Jotun Hellas pioneers vessel maintenance and safety with novel Aerial Drone Inspection Service

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    indian seafarers prison

    Cruise captain jailed for 5 years in fatal Hungary boat accident

    canada shipwreck

    Ghana imposes strict PSC and fines over MARPOL violations

    ClassNK amends its rules on construction of steel ships

    Liberia: How to comply with PSC focus on firefighting and clean machinery spaces

    orange county oil spill fines

    Crude oil tanker to pay 88 crores for damaging Haldia oil jetty

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Do you know which vessel took a sharp turn on floating standards?

    Do you know which vessel took a sharp turn on floating standards?

    MARPOL 50 Watch Column: Expert thinking on tackling marine pollution and climate crisis worldwide

    MARPOL 50 Watch Column: Expert thinking on tackling marine pollution and climate crisis worldwide

    Valenciaport: ETS poses many risks for non-EU ports

    Valenciaport: ETS poses many risks for non-EU ports

    World Maritime Day 2023: Celebrating 50 years of MARPOL

    World Maritime Day 2023: Celebrating 50 years of MARPOL

  • Columns
    Gard Club: Industry needs to mature and learn from incidents and human errors

    Gard Club: Industry needs to mature and learn from incidents and human errors

    Tokyo MOU: Fire Safety is one of the most frequently detainable deficiencies

    Tokyo MOU: Fire Safety is one of the most frequently detainable deficiencies

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    lessons learned

    Lessons learned: ENCs can be inaccurate for many reasons

    lessons learned Nautical

    Lessons learned: Crew should be aware of the most efficient fire fighting methods

    ITF recovers multi-million sum of owed wages

    ITF recovers multi-million sum of owed wages

    Houston Ship Channel

    Houston Pilots: Vessels must override their power limiter to avoid navigational risks

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    thinking out of the box

    Thinking out of the box: 5 tips for creative thinking

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Book Review: A role model for ship managers

    Book Review: How we perceive and deal with luck in life and business

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    Do you know why ballasting and deballasting are vital for a ship?

    Gard Club: Ballast water management regulations are tightening

    The first LNG bunkering facility to be available in US Gulf from 2026

    The first LNG bunkering facility to be available in US Gulf from 2026

    73% of stakeholders view net zero as a strategic priority

    73% of stakeholders view net zero as a strategic priority

    Skarv Shipping orders up to eight low carbon MPVs vessels

    Skarv Shipping orders up to eight low carbon MPVs vessels

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    mpa singapore port

    Just in Time Platform effective from October in Singapore

    Two COSCO companies issue their first electronic bills of lading

    Two COSCO companies issue their first electronic bills of lading

    Jotun Hellas pioneers vessel maintenance and safety with novel Aerial Drone Inspection Service

    Jotun Hellas pioneers vessel maintenance and safety with novel Aerial Drone Inspection Service

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

    IUMI explores the implications of digitalization on marine insurance

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    indian seafarers prison

    Cruise captain jailed for 5 years in fatal Hungary boat accident

    canada shipwreck

    Ghana imposes strict PSC and fines over MARPOL violations

    ClassNK amends its rules on construction of steel ships

    Liberia: How to comply with PSC focus on firefighting and clean machinery spaces

    orange county oil spill fines

    Crude oil tanker to pay 88 crores for damaging Haldia oil jetty

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Do you know which vessel took a sharp turn on floating standards?

    Do you know which vessel took a sharp turn on floating standards?

    MARPOL 50 Watch Column: Expert thinking on tackling marine pollution and climate crisis worldwide

    MARPOL 50 Watch Column: Expert thinking on tackling marine pollution and climate crisis worldwide

    Valenciaport: ETS poses many risks for non-EU ports

    Valenciaport: ETS poses many risks for non-EU ports

    World Maritime Day 2023: Celebrating 50 years of MARPOL

    World Maritime Day 2023: Celebrating 50 years of MARPOL

  • Columns
    Gard Club: Industry needs to mature and learn from incidents and human errors

    Gard Club: Industry needs to mature and learn from incidents and human errors

    Tokyo MOU: Fire Safety is one of the most frequently detainable deficiencies

    Tokyo MOU: Fire Safety is one of the most frequently detainable deficiencies

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

World Mental Health Day: Making mental health a priority in shipping and beyond

by The Editorial Team
October 10, 2022
in Maritime Health, Mental
World Mental Health Day: Making mental health a priority in shipping and beyond
FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

As the topic of mental health is becoming increasingly relevant in the business sector and every aspect of life, with current data showing that at least one in eight people globally is affected by mental health issues, the global community is rejoining its forces on World Mental Health Day to “Make Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority”.

Exacerbating geopolitical tensions, growing social and economic inequalities, conflicts, violence, and public health emergencies are currently affecting a great part of the world’s population, threatening progress toward improved well-being. This makes awareness of mental health an imminent need worldwide. In the shipping sector, the nature of seafaring is characterized by separation from family and loved ones, isolation and increased workload, which has made the industry long ago to put mental health high on its agenda of urgent issues to be addressed.

Mental health in numbers

  • People with severe mental health conditions die prematurely – as much as two decades early.
  • Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds.
  • Even before the pandemic, in 2019, an estimated one in eight people globally were living with a mental disorder.
  • Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic.
  • An estimated 12 billion working days are lost each year to depression and anxiety, which the WHO estimates costs the global economy nearly $1 trillion.
  • Young people are disproportionally at risk of suicidal and self-harming behaviours, following the pandemic.
  • Women have been more severely impacted than men and people with pre-existing physical health conditions, such as asthma, cancer and heart disease, were more likely to develop symptoms of mental disorders.

Mental health and seafarers: Where we stand

The often-high pressure and demanding nature of work can create more high-stress conditions for seafarers compared to workers in other sectors. Several factors put seafarers amongst the occupational groups with the highest risk of stress. Latest research on the topic indicated more risk factors associated with poor mental health among seafarers, such as:

RelatedNews

Gard Club: Industry needs to mature and learn from incidents and human errors

New agreement ensures 6% pay raise for over 250,000 seafarers

  • younger age;
  • being single;
  • poor physical health;
  • exposure to noise/vibration;
  • feeling unsafe;
  • high job demands;
  • long working hours;
  • night/irregular shifts;
  • poor sleep;
  • poor team cohesion;
  • poor perception of management;
  • poor social support;
  • lack of autonomy;
  • scheduling uncertainties;
  • long duration at sea; and
  • over-commitment.

Needless to say, the recent crew change crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left thousands of crews trapped onboard beyond contract limits, increased reports of deteriorated mental health among seafarers. Dedicated helplines from ISWAN and MHSS saw an increase in the number of calls from seafarers asking for psychological support in the months following the start of the pandemic.

Mental health of seafarers: Why is it critical?

Seafarers’ mental health is not only an essential human right, but also a critical factor for safety, a recent report by Lloyd’s Register and Lloyd’s Register Foundation showed. As explained, seafarers’ work is wide-ranging, often highly technical and labour intensive, including safety-critical operations carried out in the engine room, navigating from the bridge or performing cargo operations at ports.

As such, crew need to be alert, engaged and ready to perform. In such a dynamic environment, maintaining the mental wellbeing of these individuals is critical to safety,

…the report reads.

Studies have shown that fatigue and perceived lack of support whilst working at sea both have adverse effects on mental and emotional wellbeing. Commonly reported psychological issues among seafarers include anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation and increasing experiences of isolation.

These issues affect the quality of life for an individual when at work as well as their social circle during their leisure time, meaning that it becomes a social burden.

On World Mental Health Day 2022

WHO will work with partners to launch a campaign around the theme of Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority. This will be an opportunity for people with mental health conditions, advocates, governments, employers, employees, and other stakeholders to come together to recognize progress in this field and to be vocal about what we need to do to ensure Mental Health & Well-Being becomes a Global Priority for all.

The way forward

According to WHO, this increase in the prevalence of mental health problems has coincided with severe disruptions to mental health services, leaving huge gaps in care for those who need it most. In addition, despite progress in some countries, people with mental health conditions often experience severe human rights violations, discrimination, and stigma. The United Nations’ ‘Good Health and Well-being Sustainable Development Goal’ calls for 80% of nations to integrate mental health into primary healthcare by 2030. However, WHO data published in 2021 showed only 25% of nations had a system in place to do so.

We must deepen the value and commitment we give to mental health as individuals, communities and governments and match that value with more commitment, engagement and investment by all stakeholders, across all sectors.

-WHO

For the maritime sector, which is particularly challenged by the topic of mental health, a recent study showed there are numerous steps that maritime managers could take to improve the wellbeing of their crews, including increased monitoring of the potential for poor mental health, increasing crew numbers and provision of education and support. In addition, the recent LR study highlighted the following pathways for shipping companies to boost mental health among crews:

  1. Implement mental health interventions
  2. Fight fatigue, with better monitoring of fatigue levels and reviewing periods of maximum continuous service at sea
  3. Improve onboard accommodation, such as follow up visits to address crews’ needs
  4. Explore technological solutions, such as telemedicine
  5. Continue to improve seafarer rights by continuing to lobby governments and work with the IMO and other UN agencies.
Tags: life onboardmental healthwellbeingwellness at sea
Previous Post

Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 25 September -07 October

Next Post

Four new autonomous ferries to start operation in Sweden

Related News

ClassNK amends its rules on construction of steel ships
PSC Focus

Liberia: How to comply with PSC focus on firefighting and clean machinery spaces

September 21, 2023
Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master
Opinions

Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

September 21, 2023
BIMCO: Contracting of product tankers jump 337% in the first half of 2023
Loss Prevention

West Club: Correct gas detection equipment when carrying specific cargo

September 21, 2023
uae saudi arabia maritime training
Maritime Health

ISWAN: Mental health contacts in seafarer helplines increased by 37%

September 20, 2023
Practicing gratitude can change your life
Mental

Practicing gratitude can change your life

September 20, 2023
Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy
Maritime Health

Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

September 19, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

NATO phonetic alphabet

Do you know what NATO phonetic alphabet is?

November 24, 2020
singapore border measures

Do you know what GT and DWT measure in a ship?

November 10, 2021
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2021 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Opinions
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2021 SAFETY4SEA

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Disclaimer.