Seafaring and Mental Health: Being there for one another
World Suicide Prevention Day is an annual event observed on September 10th to raise awareness about the importance of preventing suicide and promoting mental health. Overall, it plays a crucial role in advocating for mental health, raising awareness about suicide prevention and fostering a more compassionate and informed society that is equipped to provide assistance to those in crisis.
We must remember that suicide is preventable. It takes individuals, communities and organisations to become engaged and focus on mental health support, education and destigmatisation.
Mental health and the seafaring community
Seafaring is a fulfilling and meaningful career but given the unique challenges and stresses that seafarers face while working at sea for extended periods, suicide is a serious concern within the seafaring community. The isolation, long working hours, separation from family and friends, demanding work environments and limited access to mental health resources can contribute to increased vulnerability to mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts.
A 2022 report by the Department for Transport and Maritime and Coastguard Agency found that mental health support fluctuates based on the employer and that there is an industry-wide challenge in normalizing discussions around mental health to remove the associated stigma.
Based on research published in the International Maritime Health journal, approximately 5.9% of fatalities occurring at sea are linked to suicides. However, when fatalities labelled as ‘suspicious’ and potentially indicative of suicides were taken into account, the proportion surged to 18.3%.
What we can all do to support each other
Community and the ability to discuss our feelings are key to our mental health. World Suicide Prevention Day is a timely reminder to take a moment every now and then and check in with yourself and others.
If you have concerns about someone, try to engage them in conversation. Pose open-ended questions such as, “How do you feel about…?”. Lending an ear and showing genuine consideration can be extremely helpful. It’s important to remember that negative feelings cannot and will not last. Like all feelings, they will pass.
Below are a few things you can do for yourself and others, if you’re concerned about mental health and wellbeing. Reach out, you are not alone and there is help available.
- Tell someone how you’re feeling.
- Contact a helpline.
- Try not to think about the future – just focus on getting through today.
- Stay away from drugs and alcohol.
- Get yourself to a safe place.
- Be around other people.
- Do something that you usually enjoy.
Feel free to contact us if you’re feeling overwhelmed about your oral exam. There are also some other great organisations that could help: www.seafarerswelfare.org, www.yachtcrewhelp.org