Tag: mental health

In an exclusive interview with SAFETY4SEA, Revd Canon Andrew Wright, Secretary General, The Mission to Seafarers, notes that the pandemic brought much stress and anxiety to seafarers’ life, which has undermined mental well-being

In light of the humanitarian crisis that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) highlights the importance of ensuring that the crew members maintain a good mental health.

On the occasion of Seafarers Awareness Week, the Maritime Charities Group, comprising 10 major maritime charities, has joined forces with the Merchant Navy Training Board to publish a good practice guide to designing a training course for seafarers on mental health and wellbeing awareness.

More than 80% of the world’s commercial goods are delivered on board cargo ships, and thousands of merchant sailors who run these ships are now stuck due to COVID-19. Some of these workers have started to refer to their vessels as floating prisons.

On the occasion of UK's Seafarers Awareness Week, maritime charity Seafarers UK noted a lack of reliable source of information about suicides at sea. In this regard, the charity urged the ILO to consider steps in line with MLC, to ensure that all seafarer suicides are accurately identified.

To assist seafarers and their mental wellbeing in coping with the challenges imposed by COVID-19 pandemic, BIMCO compiled a list of useful resources to enable seafarers to seek free, immediate and direct help.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) drew attention to the ongoing work of ISWAN and its members, amid an ongoing crisis affecting mental health of thousands of seafarers globally. 

A Filipino crew of the cruise ship 'Harmony of the Seas' was found dead outside her cabin in a suspected suicide case, bringing again the issue of mental health of suspended seafarers in the spotlight. 

The COVID-19 pandemic led to crew change restrictions and challenges for the seafarers, resulting to immense stress. Thus, Christopher L. Hall – Managing Director (Hong Kong), SCB Management Consulting Services, Ltd. and Business Development Director (Asia) – offers five things that the industry can do now to help seafarers cope with feelings of anxiety and/or depression.

Amid COVID-19 crisis, Mission to Seafarers recently launched a new campaign focusing on the major welfare issues that seafarers face during the pandemic.