A new report into seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing has been published by the Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Responding to the report, Sharon Coveney, Deputy Chief Executive of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board which is the umbrella charity for UK Merchant Navy and fishing fleets based in Southampton, said:
“There’s no escaping the challenges involved at sea and the many sacrifices seafarers make to carry out their jobs. The long hours, the dangerous conditions and spending months on end away from their families undoubtedly impacts seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing.
“Unsurprisingly, this report reinforces what we already know – there’s still a stigma around mental health. Ensuring seafarers are given the right support and guidance is more important than ever. This new digital tool, whereby those working in the maritime sector can access practical advice, is a step in the right direction and will hopefully raise awareness. Of course, there’s more we can be doing to break down the barriers so seafarers feel they are able to talk openly about mental health. And that will take time.”
The Board recently announced, in collaboration with the Department for Transport, a £2m grant fund that supports seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing.
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