Actions to Improve Seafarers’ Wellbeing
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. During this month, information is distributed to seafarers to assist in spreading awareness and to give resources to those that need help. Seafarers House San Juan does their part to spread awareness via our social media accounts and to the seafarers that visit our center in Old San Juan. Resources are also provided with detailed information and professionals that can assist any seafarer suffering from mental health issues.
There is an ongoing effort in the industry as well within private organizations to ensure the improvement of seafarers’ mental wellbeing. Many studies have been done to pinpoint and determine the root cause of the deterioration of the mental wellbeing of seafarers, in the effort to improve conditions needed. Sadly, there are many underlying factors contributing to the decline of seafarer mental wellness. The demanding work conditions as well as the extended periods away from loved ones cause severe cases of burnout and anxiety. This and prolonged periods of isolation can be detrimental to mental health and should not be overlooked when it becomes severe to the point of impacting the health of a seafarer. (PMC PubMed Central, 2024) When situations arise that a seafarer needs support, there are many resources available to assist them.
The Mission to Seafarers is one such organization that has large networks of ordained port chaplains who visit the crew onboard ships. When they make these visits, they offer prayer to the seafarers onboard as well as listen to anything they wish to say to them. They also offer volunteers who are professionally trained and equipped in order to tend to situations of PTSD counseling and advanced health care. If a seafarer wishes for additional information or counseling, the Mission to Seafarers also can connect them to other organizations and speak on their behalf. (The Mission to Seafarers, n.d.)
Many mental health disorders can arise as a consequence of declining mental wellbeing among seafarers. Post-traumatic stress disorder is one such condition that has a high incidence rate among seafarers. PTSD can occur when a person goes through, or bears witness to an event that causes great emotional trauma. This in turn can lead to persistent symptoms like nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and avoidance behavior, among other things. During the 2024 SAFETY4SEA Forum in Singapore, Captain Sundeep Sequeira commented that PTSD is seen in 37% of seafarers working in the industry, compared to 3.8% seen among the general population that are affected. During this forum, the captain goes on to discuss that many seafarers show heavy signs of exhaustion which adds to the deterioration of their mental wellbeing. Social isolation and poor sleep quality are also among the top factors affecting seafarers on a daily basis. These factors can drastically affect a seafarer’s quality of life and can greatly damage a seafarer’s health. (Sequeira, 2024)
So, what actions can be done by seafarers to help raise their mental wellbeing? There are several relaxation techniques that seafarers can do such as practicing meditation, which can help reduce stress and anxiety. Deep breathing techniques can also help by activating sections of the nervous system which can improve a person’s mood by helping them to get calm and relaxed. Reading and doing other hobbies can help improve a seafarer’s mood as well. If they can, seafarers with mental health issues should also try to connect and create meaningful relationships with other crewmates, this can be a huge step for a seafarer to combat loneliness as well as greatly improve their wellbeing. (Women Offshore, 2025)
References
PMC PubMed Central. (2024, March 26). Factors Impacting Seafarers’ Mental Health and Career Intentions. Retrieved from PMC PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10966976/#:~:text=Seafarers%20are%20exposed%20to%20demanding,somatisation%2C%20and%20other%20negative%20outcomes.
Sequeira, C. S. (2024, December 6). SAFETY4SEA. Retrieved from Mental health at sea: Insights into seafarers’ wellbeing: https://safety4sea.com/cm-mental-health-at-sea-insights-into-seafarers-wellbeing/
The Mission to Seafarers. (n.d.). Seafarers Mental Health & Well-being. Retrieved from The Mission to Seafarers: https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/about/our-issues/mental-health
Women Offshore. (2025, February 11). 5 Effective Ways to Improve Mental Health for Seafarers. Retrieved from Women Offshore: https://womenoffshore.org/5-effective-ways-to-improve-mental-health-for-seafarers/