The maritime industry is one of the oldest occupations, having existed for centuries and helping in the movement of cargo all over the world. Thus, the mainly distinct life on board and the corresponding experiences have severe psychological consequences for seafarers. In this blog, we examined the mental health challenges that seafarers encounter, their antecedents, and possible ways to eliminate them.
Isolation and Loneliness
Among all the psychological issues affecting seafarers, one of the most crucial problems is the issue of solitude. Staying isolated from your loved ones for a long can make the person depressed and always feel lonely. Sometimes communication with friends and family members is limited or non-existent, which intensifies these feelings and thus threatens the seafarer's psychological well-being. It can have disastrous effects, ultimately contributing to anxiety, depression, and in some cases, suicide.
Individuals who experience prolonged isolation are about 50% more likely to experience depression and anxiety compared to those with regular social interactions. (Source)
Stress and Fatigue
One has to understand that work, which is associated with sea activities, is always stressful on a certain level. Overtime, shift work, and high working demands emphasize that the working environment is stressful and has to travel through rough and tiring weather to complete the job. The inability to perform or provide results puts much pressure since maritime operations are high risk and high value.
The maritime industry is considered a high-risk work environment due to factors such as working at heights, handling heavy machinery, and exposure to harsh weather conditions. A study found that the fatal accident rate in the maritime industry is about 3 times higher than the average across all industries.
If exposure to such stress is sustained, burnout is usually results which, in its turn, will affect the seafarer’s physical and mental health. (Source)
Cultural and Language Barriers
Like all other employees in the modern world, seafarers are also employed in a multicultural workforce, in most cases with fellow crew members from different countries. While it could be a strength to be diverse in a way that can be interesting and further develop the differences, it can be a weakness because of differences in culture, language, and even beliefs. These can reduce his morale and make him feel lonely, which are certain absolutes to his mental health. Non-communication also contributes to the lack of formation of healthy measures of social support in the board.
40% of seafarers reported difficulties in communication with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds. This lack of effective communication can hinder team cohesion and contribute to feelings of isolation.
Limited Access to Mental Health Services
There are other significant concerns that HIS encounter: seafarers have limited access to mental health care services. This nature of civil servants’ work may sometimes hinder them from accessing timely and appropriate mental health services. Cognitive issues in particular, can have a stigma at sea; thus, few seafarers will come forward to report these issues.
This lack of access and support can exacerbate mental health problems, leading to a decline in overall well-being.
Solutions and Interventions
To effectively address the mental health problems of seafarers, an approach that tackles this issue holistically is needed. Here are the measures that shipping companies and maritime organizations can take to enhance employees' mental health.
Regular Mental Health Training
Organizing routine mental health awareness sessions for seafarers could assist the latter in identifying symptoms of mental health disorders and enable them to deal with the problems. Further, training can eliminate the prejudice and taboos regarding mental health and this will enable more seafarers to seek help.
Enhanced Communication Channels
Enhancing the communication technology available to seafarers can go a long way toward helping them communicate with their families back home. Internet connection, daily or weekly phone conversations, and emails are helpful ways of minimizing the chances of loneliness and isolation.
Onboard Mental Health Support
When developing and implementing supportive measures, it is possible to involve mental health professionals on board or provide a telemedicine service for seafarers’ support. They should be taking their check-ins and counseling frequently to enhance the quality of their mental health.
Promoting a Supportive Environment
Creating a positive atmosphere on the board becomes critical since seafarers may suffer from loneliness while on their shift. Interacting with society, creating and developing teamwork, and promoting cultural interactions should be encouraged as they improve a person’s psychological well-being. (Source)
Conclusion
The consequences of the psychological states and the mental diseases developed by the seafarers are profound and diverse. Thus, by recognizing these issues and applying specific measures, the situation within the maritime industry can be improved, and the quality of the workers’ lives can be determined. Care provision to the seafarers, including their ability to seek psychological support, create a friendly atmosphere, and ensure that the seafarers do not feel isolated, will go a long way in controlling the psychological effects that come with life at sea.
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