Guidelines for Mental Care Onboard Merchant Ships
Guidelines for Mental Care Onboard Merchant Ships
P A R T
88
P A R T
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Guidelines
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Guidelines
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ental Care
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forr Mental
ental Care
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1.
1.
Introdu
Introduction
ction
Introdu
Introduction
ction
The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network,
The
International
Seafarers’ W
and
are aware
of the importance
ofelfare
lifestyle
onAssistance
the health Network,
of seafarers,
are
aware of“MEN
the importance
lifestyle
health
of seafarers,
ofon
thethe
topics
in the
is launching
TAL CARE”ofas
one o
1.
Introduction
1.
2.
Introduction
Risks
for seafarers
is
launching
“MENInformation
as one of
topics in the
TAL CARE”Programme,
o thesponsored
Seafarers
’ Health
by
2.
3.
Risks for seafarers
Stress
Seafarers
’ Health ’Information
Programme, sponsored by
the ITF Seafarers
Trust.
3.
4.
Stress
Harassment
and bullying
the ITF Seafarers’ Trust.
4.
5.
Harassment and bullying
Anxiety
Although psychological problems are very common
5.
6.
Anxiety
Depression
Although
psychological
problems
areofvery
common
among seafarers,
the mental
health
seafarers
has only
6.
7.
Depression
Fatigue
among
seafarers,
the mental
of seafarers
has only
comparatively
recently
startedhealth
to receive
the attention
it
7.
8.
Fatigue thinking and behaviour
Disruptive
comparatively
recently started to receive the attention it
deserves.
8.
9.
Disruptiveto
thinking
Addiction
alcoholand
andbehaviour
drugs
deserves.
9.
10.
Addiction
to onboard
alcohol and drugs
Mental
care
The mental state is part of the human condition. Disease
10.
1
1.
Mental
onboard implementation
T
ips forcare
the successful
The medical
mental state
is part ofare
theonly
human
condition.
and
involvement
relevant
at theDisease
11.
Tips
for the Care
successful
implementation
of
a Mental
campaign
and medicalMany
involvement
are only for
relevant
the
ex-tremes.
of the remedies
minor at
problems
are in
12.
of a Mental
Care
campaign
Where
to ¿nd
advice?
ex-tremes.
Many
ofwho
the remedies
minor problems
are in
the
hands of
those
create thefor
conditions
under which
12.
Where to ¿nd advice?
the hands work
of those
the conditions
under
seafarers
andwho
live. create
Colleagues
and friends
are which
often
seafarers
work
live. Colleagues
and
friends state
are often
able to form
an and
impression
of a person
’s mental
able
formeasily
an impression
of a rperson
’s mental
state
muchtomore
than a docto
. Seafarers
can therefore
much
moreother
easily
thanwa
a docto
r. Seafarers can therefore
help each
in that
y.
help each other in that way.
True mental illness occurs independently of any physical
T
rue mental
illnessa occurs
independently
anybe
physical
in behaviour
seen,
ailment.
Normally
difference
f
behav ofcan
ailment. from
Normally
a difference
in behaviour
can abnormal.
be seen,
f unusual
behav
ranging
just slightly
to completely
ranging
slightlymild
unusual
to attacks
completely
abnormal.
This
canfrom
varyjust
between
anxiety
to depression,
This can vary
between
mild anxiety
attacksr. to
depression,
disruptive
thinking
or aggressive
behaviou
Even
more
1
1
disruptive
or to
aggressive
tragically, itthinking
can lead
suicide. behaviour. Even more
tragically, it can lead to suicide.
The demands of work, such as split shift patterns or the
The
demands
of work, may
suchplay
as split
shift
“home-work
interface”
a role
in patterns
initiating or
or the
[email protected]
“home-work
interface”
may
a role
in initiating
or sustaining mental
problems
andplay
pose
a challenge
to manage-
[email protected]
ww
w.seafarershealth.org
www.seafarerswelfare.org
www.seafarershealth.org
tainingtomental
problems
and pose
a challenge
to management
examine
operational
practices
and workload.
ment to examine operational practices and workload.
1
1
International
Seafarers’
Welfare
and Assistance Network
International Committee
on Seafarers’
Welfare
Sometimes seafarers are exposed to harassment and bullying onboard ship, even in some cases, involving extreme
• The fear of criminalisation
• Shift patterns of work and disruptions to that system in
ports e.g. , including the restrictions on shore leave by
physical violence.
Alcohol or drugs influence behaviour and emotions. People
authorities
• The quality of rest periods both in relation to environmental conditions like noise, vibrations and movements
under their influence react differently, cannot focus and
concentrate and are not able to perform complex tasks
adequately, which may pose safety risks onboard.
Whatever the cause, mental illness must be taken extremely seriously, both to protect individual seafarers and also
of the ship; and adequate time for uninterrupted rest
• The pressure of more frequent inspections and administrative tasks
• Greater commercial pressure from ashore
• Fast turnaround times in port and fewer opportunities
to de-stress, e.g. going ashore, or leisure activities
their fellow crewmembers.
Having a useful job as member of a mutually supportive
onboard
• Reduced common language and/or culture: due to
multinational crews with reduced ability to communicate
team can be one of the best protections against mental
health problems.
2.
Risks for Seafarers
with each other in a meaningful way
• Familiarity with working together: knowing colleagues,
their practices, communication and habits is important
to increase the quality of work
• Increased use of multinational crews and the dispersion
of recruitment has brought an end to tried and tested
It is not clear what the main causes for an increase in the
forms of solidarity and sociability
number and severity of psychological difficulties in seafarers are, but there are numerous possible factors that
increase the risk:
All these factors affect seafarers’ mental and physical
well-being and reinforce isolation, fatigue, depression and
• Labour intensification, risk of both mental and physical
stress.
overwork
• Manning levels, and related issues: the qualifications
and experience of crew members
• Increasing monotony of working and living onboard
modern ships leading to boredom and social isolation
• Fatigue, which slows down a seafarer’s reaction time
Although the link between some of the above factors and
mental health is still speculative and needs to be backed
up by more research and evidence, it is obvious that risk
factors for mental problems are prominently present in the
maritime working environment as follows:
and reduces their ability to make decisions
• Stress due to worrying about the consequences of making a mistake
• Stress due to being away from home for long periods of
time
2
• Family pressure to remain at sea longer in order to earn
more money and continue sending funds home
• Severity of the environmental conditions; the dangers of
being at sea
• Automation, the complexity of systems and related
issues of control, reliability, training, and alarm management
2
•
•
•
•
•
Reduced performance
Risk to the individual
Risk to colleagues
Risk to vessels and cargo
The need for help and support, which puts strain on the
rest of the crew
• Anti social behaviour causing tensions
• Feelings of persecution or hopelessness, which can
make any form of interpersonal contact difficult
Guidelines
forMerchant
Dental
Care
Onboard
Merchant
Guidelines
for Dental
Care
Onboard
Merchant
Ships
Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard Merchant
ShipsShips
Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard
Ships
otony
Monotony
Performance
Performance
Thereofare
many
examples
tasks in theOne
modern
world
Oneeffects
of the of
first
negative
effectsmay
of mental
problems may be
are many examples
tasks
in the
modernofworld
of the
first negative
mental
problems
be
rely crucially
onmaintain
a person’s
ability
maintain
foseen in a seafarer’s
performance
in their job. By the same
ly crucially on athat
person’s
ability to
their
fo- to seen
in a their
seafarer’s
performance
in their job.
By the same
cus of
attention
over Indeed,
long periods
of time.token,
Indeed,
boardthattoken,
the
factors performance
that lead to reduced
performance are
attention over long
periods
of time.
on board
theon
factors
lead to
reduced
are
ship,to
the
increasing
automate thestressors
work environstressors
thatoverload
may lead
to consemental overload and consehe increasing trend
automate
thetrend
workto
environthat may lead
to mental
and
mentshifting
has resulted
in jobs
shifting
away from
active
to more quently
psychological
or mental
problems. Some of these
has resulted in jobs
away from
active
to more
quently
psychological
or mental
problems. Some
of these
visory roles
supervisory roles
factors
risk factors for mentalrisk
health
are:for mental health are:
• Quality
the following
keeping
tasks, any• lack
of vigilance
of automated
e.g. easy to use,
following watchInkeeping
tasks, watch
any lack
of vigilance
Quality
of automated
systems:
e.g. easy tosystems:
use,
ead to mistakes.may lead to mistakes.
well designed
and useful.
reliable, well designedreliable,
and useful.
As the quality
of the As the quality of the
bridge automation
increases,
bridge automation increases,
mental load
is likely tomental load is likely to
Factors
that
beenperformance
proven to influence performance
s that have been
proven
to have
influence
decrease.
watch keepingduring
are: watch keeping are:
decrease.
Load due to task
characteristics:
the mental de• Load due to task•characteristics:
the mental
demands
experienced
the nature
individual due to the nature
mands experienced by
the individual
due by
to the
• accidents
Time of day:
many
accidents
workload
is culty
an is-of tasks and
of tasksand
such
as navigation and watch
me of day: many
where
workload
is anwhere
isand diffi
suchdiffi
asculty
navigation
watch
sue,
to occur early in the morning keeping.
e, tend to occur early
in tend
the morning
keeping.
• Severity
Shift
handovers:
at the beginof the perceived
consequences of making
• Severity
ift handovers: •many
accidents
occurmany
at theaccidents
begin- occur
of the perceived
consequences
of making
of a shift,
when
a seafarer is aeither
tryingthis involves
a mistake:
involves notbut
only
g or end of a shift,ning
whenoraend
seafarer
is either
trying
mistake:
not only this
the immediate
thethe immediate but the
assess
and
absorbor
the
current
or may beconsequences
commercial
consequences
assess and absorbtothe
current
situation
may
be situation
commercial
of making
a mistake..of making a mistake..
preparing
to hand
over, distracted
by •thoughts
of fi-levels: •suffiManning
levels:
sufficient
qualified and/or experieneparing to hand over,
distracted
by thoughts
of fiManning
cient qualifi
ed and/or
experien-
nishing
thethe
shift.
In either
the seafarer
bemembers
fully
ced crewformembers
available
hing the shift. In either
case,
seafarer
notcase,
be fully
ced not
crew
available
tasks that
need tofor
be tasks that need to be
concentrating on the task
ncentrating on the task
performed.
As of
thequalifi
required
number of qualified and/or
performed. As the required
number
ed and/or
• The on
number
ofmany
persons
on watch: many
accidents crew members
experienced
crew individual
members mental
increases, individual mental
e number of persons
watch:
accidents
experienced
increases,
to occur
seafarer is on watch
alone
load is likely to decrease.
d to occur when a tend
seafarer
is onwhen
watcha alone
load
is likely to decrease.
• The
• seafarer’s
technology
used:
many
have nuFatigue: affects
seafarer’s
mental capacity and can
e technology used:
many
vessels now
have
nu-vessels• now
Fatigue:
affects the
mentalthe
capacity
and can
merous Seafarers
automatedcan
systems.
Seafarers can
become
slow reaction
times,
ability to etc..
process information, etc..
rous automated systems.
become
slow
reaction times, ability
to process
information,
on less
these
aids, and
vigilant,
or of fatigue As
feelingssooftoo
fatigue
increase,
er-reliant on these over-reliant
aids, and thus
vigilant,
or thus less As
feelings
increase,
will feelings
of so too will feelings of
may not aids
use the
navigational
aids at all, preferring
to
y not use the navigational
at all,
preferring to
mental load..
mental load..
• Loadtask
navigate by
visualmay
references,
not due
fully to concurrent
duedemands:
to concurrent
task demands: (i.e. other
vigate by visual references,
or they
not fully or they•may
Load
(i.e. other
understand
derstand how to use
the aids. how to use the aids.
tasks
that may have
to seafarer,
be performed by the seafarer,
tasks that may have to
be performed
by the
Environment:
the the
environment
seafarer with his/her
in conjunction
with his/her
vironment: the• environment
around
seafarer around the
in conjunction
primary tasks):
these primary
can in- tasks): these can in-
onperformance.
watch can inflFor
uence
performance.
Forclude
example,
if
clude monitoring
administrative
tasks,operatimonitoring onboard operatiwatch can influence
example,
if
administrative
tasks,
onboard
the seafarer
conduct
tasksit whilst ons,
sittingmonitoring
down, it nearby
ons,
monitoring
nearby
traffiIfcthere
or personal tasks. If there
seafarer can conduct
all tasks can
whilst
sitting all
down,
traffi
c or personal
tasks.
can make
them
lesstheir
vigilant,
and
theirtoo
ability
toconcurrent
are too
many
the mental load is likely
n make them less vigilant,
and
reduce
ability
to reduce are
many
tasks,
the concurrent
mental loadtasks,
is likely
switch
and high cognitive workloads.
itch between low and
highbetween
cognitivelow
workloads.
to increase.
to increase.
• Quality ofthe
• Quality of crew competence:
crew
competence:
level
of training, the level of training,
3
3
experience,
morale, degree
of of
communication, etc. of
experience, morale, degree
of communication,
etc.
If the quality is
of good,
crew competence
is good, the
the crew. If the qualitythe
of crew.
crew competence
the
mental
load onisindividual
seafarers is likely to decrease.
mental load on individual
seafarers
likely to decrease.
• Dealing with
• Dealing with contingencies:
suchcontingencies:
as a systems orsuch as a systems or
parts failure.
As the number
or seriousness of situations
parts failure. As the number
or seriousness
of situations
increases,
load may also increase.
increases, mental load
may alsomental
increase.
3
3
International
Seafarers’
Welfare
and Assistance Network
International Committee
on Seafarers’
Welfare
• Severity of environmental conditions: the level of
natural light, the weather conditions and degree of
visibility. As the severity of the environmental conditions
increases, mental load is also likely to increase as the
•
•
•
•
substance abuse
extreme anger and frustration
family conflict
physical illnesses such as heart disease, migraine,
headaches, stomach problems, and back problems.
individual tries to deal with and compensate for these
conditions.
• Number of distractions: from sources such as unnecessary telephone or radio transmissions, other crew
Six key areas (or ‘risk factors’) that can be causes of work
related stress on board. These are:
•
•
distractions increases, the mental load is more likely to
•
increase.
• Degree of individual experience: a seafarer must feel •
•
capable of dealing with the tasks he/she is responsible
•
for.
members and personal problems. As the number of
the demands of the job;
the level of control a seafarer has over their work;
the support received from management and colleagues;
relationships at work;
the seafarer’s role in the organisation;
change and how it’s managed.
When under severe stress, a seafarer fails to take clear-cut
3.
Stress
decisions, reevaluate and reassess priorities and lifestyles,
and ultimately, tends to fall into unproductive distractions.
This can be described as a classic case of ‘burnout’.
Job stress can be defined as the harmful physical and
emotional responses that occur when the requirements of
Chronic Responsibility Syndrome is a kind of burnout
the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs
where people get mentally and physically exhausted from
of the worker.
their workload. The symptom is often described as “there’s
simply too much work to do, and no one else can do it but
Job stress can lead to poor health and injury.
me”. Typically it will occur in hard working, hard driven people, who become emotionally, psychologically or physically
Cumulative stress may be caused by being away from
exhausted.
home for extended periods of time; the stress of being on
board the vessel in prolonged adverse weather conditions;
People are at risk of burnout where:
as well as the stress of the job itself, etc.
• they find it difficult to say ‘no’ to additional commitments
As this stress accumulates, the seafarer may find it more
• they have been under intense and sustained pressure
or responsibilities
difficult to get adequate or quality rest which can lead to an
increase in fatigue.
The signs of job stress vary from person to person, depending on the particular situation, how long the seafarer
for some time
• their high standards make it difficult to delegate
• they have been trying to achieve too much for too long
• they have been giving too much emotional support for
too long
has been subjected to the stressors, and the intensity of
4
the stress itself.
Often burnout will manifest itself in a reduction in motivation, volume and quality of performance, or in dissatisfaction
Typical symptoms of job stress can be:
• insomnia
• loss of mental concentration
• anxiety
4
with or departure from the activity altogether.
Possible solutions for job related stress are:
• to identify stressors in life, such as work, or family
• to get adequate sleep and rest to maintain energy levels
Guidelines
forMerchant
Dental
Care
Onboard
Merchant
Guidelines
for Dental
Care
Onboard
Merchant
Ships
Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard Merchant
ShipsShips
Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard
Ships
otony
Performance
• to eat a healthy, balanced diet with a limited
intake of
caffeine and alcohol
• Positive attitudes towards stressful situations in life
should be fostered. Negative mental traits such as fear,
• to of
develop
alternative
activities
a relaxing
revenge,
which actually
are many examples
tasks in
the modern
world such as
One
of the first negative anger
effectsand
of mental
problems
may be cause stress should
hobby ability to maintain their foly crucially on a person’s
be given up.
seen in a seafarer’s performance
in their job. By the same
• toperiods
take support
and
adviceonfrom
friends
and the
family
In case
of chronic
stress, a are
health professional should
attention over long
of time.
Indeed,
board
token,
factors that• lead
to reduced
performance
• totoconsider
meditation
gym, aerobics
or sports
tomay lead to
bemental
consulted.
he increasing trend
automate
the work or
environstressors
that
overload and conse-
focus,
to active
reorganize
priorities
stress can
be of
reduced
has resulted in jobsswitch
shifting
awayand
from
to more
quently psychological• or Workplace
mental problems.
Some
these by celebrating achievements.
risk factors for mental health
are:
visory roles
In late stages of burnout, where the seafarer may be fee-
work
deeply
de-motivated
and
disenchanted
theirofjob
or Collective
• with
following watchling
keeping
tasks,
any lack of
vigilance
Quality
automated
systems:coping
e.g. easywith
to use,
stress
ead to mistakes.life, help should be sought from a good psychologist.
reliable, well designed and useful. As the quality of the
of a group or
Some long-term tips for seafarers to survivebridge
stress:automationCoactive
increases,coping
mentaloccurs
load iswhen
likelymembers
to
s that have been proven to influence performance
decrease.
work use similar individual ways of coping due to social
shared perceptions
or beliefs, or imitation strateEven in a safe and secure working life,
with
• changing
watch keeping•are:
Load due
to taskpressure,
characteristics:
the mental degies.
identifi
with the job is strong
the times makes a position more secure.mands
In today’s
experienced
by In
theseafarers
individualthe
due
to thecation
nature
andsuch
this may
lead to such
coactive
maritime where
industry,
seafarers
need
me of day: many accidents
workload
is an
is- to be continually
and difficulty of tasks
as navigation
and
watch reaction.
prepared
for changes to avoid stress andkeeping.
survive in the
e, tend to occur early
in the morning
Collective
coping occursof
when
a group initiates actions to
competitive
avoided
• be
ift handovers: many
accidentsworld.
occurComplacency
at the begin- should
Severity
ofand
the perceived
consequences
making
prevent,
reduce stressful
seafarer
should
be prepared
physig or end of a shift,the
when
a seafarer
is either
trying for any change
a mistake:
this involves
noteliminate
only the or
immediate
but the situations, to interpret
emotionally
andor
financially.
assess and absorbcally,
the current
situation
may be
the situation
in a more
positive way or to alleviate its negacommercial consequences
of making
a mistake..
and ed
consequences.
This
is also isby
part
of a vision
is not always
• Manning
eparing to hand •over,
distracted
thoughts
of fi-where stress
levels: tive
suffieffects
cient qualifi
and/or experien-
seencase,
as distress
and demands
are considered
as chalhing the shift. In either
the seafarer
not be fully
ced crew
members available for tasks that need to be
only infl
stress
and the health of their
lenges and opportunities, instead of threats
and taxing
ncentrating on the task
performed.
As theLeaders
requirednot
number
of uence
qualified
and/or
experiences.
e number of persons
on watch: many accidents
but alsoindividual
the workplace
experienced crew subordinates,
members increases,
mentalas a whole. Shared
• a Whatever
emotions and coping are directly influenced by leadership.
is necessary
and
d to occur when
seafarer istime
on watch
alone to refresh, re-energize
load is likely
to decrease.
• Fatigue:
re-motivate
should
be have
foundnuand protected.
Qualityaffects
time the seafarer’s mental capacity and can
e technology used:
many vessels
now
All ability
these to
processes
have both direct
should be
spent with
family when theslow
seafarer
is attimes,
rous automated systems.
Seafarers
canthe
become
reaction
process information,
etc.. and indirect effects on
the increase,
mental health
of will
subordinates,
This
canless
be an
excellent
emotional
and
er-reliant on these home.
aids, and
thus
vigilant,
or source ofAs
feelings of
fatigue
so too
feelings of individually or collec-
moral support.
y not use the navigational
aids at all, preferring to
mental load..
tively.
Alcohol, smoking
and not
other
substance• abuse
vigate by visual•references,
or they may
fully
Loadshould
due tobe
concurrent task demands: (i.e. other
avoided
while under constant stress.
derstand how to use
the aids.
tasks that may have to be performed by the seafarer,
vironment: the environment around the seafarer
in conjunction with his/her primary tasks): these can in-
watch can influence performance. For example, if
clude administrative tasks, monitoring onboard operati-
seafarer can conduct all tasks whilst sitting down, it
ons, monitoring nearby traffic or personal tasks. If there
n make them less vigilant, and reduce their ability to
are too many concurrent tasks, the mental load is likely
itch between low and high cognitive workloads.
to increase.
• Quality of crew competence: the level of training,
5
3
experience, morale, degree of communication, etc. of
the crew. If the quality of crew competence is good, the
mental load on individual seafarers is likely to decrease.
• Dealing with contingencies: such as a systems or
parts failure. As the number or seriousness of situations
increases, mental load may also increase.
3
5
International
Seafarers’
Welfare
and Assistance Network
International Committee
on Seafarers’
Welfare
4.
Harassment and bullying
onboard ships
5
Anxiety
It’s normal to worry and feel tense or scared when under
Harassment is deemed to be a form of discrimination when
pressure or facing a stressful situation. Anxiety is the
unwanted conduct takes place which has the purpose or
body’s natural response to danger, an automatic alarm that
effect of violating the dignity of a person and of creating
goes off when we feel threatened.
an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive
environment.
Although unpleasant, anxiety isn’t always a bad thing. Anxiety can help an individual to stay alert and focused, act as
No seafarer should be harassed or bullied. All seafarers
a spur to action, and motivate him/her to solve problems.
have a responsibility for ensuring that their ships are free of
harassment and bullying.
However, when anxiety is constant or overwhelming, when
it interferes with relationships and activities the line from
Examples of harassing behaviour include:
normal anxiety into the territory of anxiety disorders has
been crossed.
• offensive physical contact, derogatory language or
intimidating actions;
• insulting or threatening gestures or language (overt or
implied) or continual and unwarranted shouting;
An anxious person is usually aware of his state of mind, but
the situation may have got out of control; they may find it
difficult to sleep and may have lost their appetite.
• unjustified and unnecessary comments about a
seafarer’s work or capacity for work;
• openly displayed pictures, posters, graffiti or written
materials which might be offensive to some;
Anxiety disorders are a group of related conditions rather
than a single disorder, but despite their different forms, all
anxiety disorders share one major symptom: persistent
• phone calls or messages on electronic mail or computer or severe fear or worry in situations where most people
networks which are threatening, abusive or offensive to
wouldn’t feel threatened.
colleagues;
• persistent following or stalking; and
• disparaging remarks about malingering to seafarers
who have made a claim for compensation.
Bullying is also harassment and is used to describe a
threatening or intimidating work environment in which a
group of people or an individual may become fearful or
intimidated because of the negative or hostile behaviour of
another group of people or individual.
In addition to the primary symptoms of irrational and excessive fear and worry, other common emotional symptoms of
anxiety include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Trouble concentrating
Feeling tense and jumpy
Anticipating the worst
Irritability
Restlessness
Watching for signs of danger
Feeling like the mind’s gone blank
Bullying often involves a misuse of power or position and
6
is often persistent and unpredictable. It may be vindictive,
Anxiety is more than just a feeling. As a product of the
cruel or malicious. However it can also arise when a per-
body’s fight-or-flight response, anxiety involves a wide
son is unaware of the effect that their behaviour is having
range of physical symptoms. Because of the numerous
on other people or when they do not intend to bully.
physical symptoms, anxiety sufferers often mistake their
disorder for a medical illness. They may visit many doctors
6
Guidelines
forMerchant
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Care
Onboard
Merchant
Guidelines
for Dental
Care
Onboard
Merchant
Ships
Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard Merchant
ShipsShips
Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard
Ships
otony
and make numerous trips to the hospital Performance
before their anxi-
• Trouble breathing or choking sensation
ety disorder is discovered.
• Hyperventilation
are many examples of tasks in the modern world
One of the first negative
effects
of mental
problems may be
• Hot
flashes
or chills
of anxiety
include:
ly crucially on aCommon
person’sphysical
ability tosymptoms
maintain their
foseen in a seafarer’s performance
job. By the same
• Tremblinginortheir
shaking
• Pounding
heart
attention over long
periods of
time. Indeed, on board token, the factors that• lead
to reduced
performance
Nausea
or stomach
crampsare
• Sweating
he increasing trend
to automate the work environstressors that may lead
mentaldetached
overloador
and
conse• to
Feeling
unreal
• Stomach
upsetfrom
or dizziness
has resulted in jobs
shifting away
active to more quently psychological or mental problems. Some of these
• Frequent urination or diarrhoea
visory roles
risk factors for mental health are:
• Shortness of breath
There are six major types of anxiety disorders:
•
Tremors
and
twitches
•
following watch keeping tasks, any lack of vigilance
Quality of automated systems: e.g. easy to use,
• Generalized
anxiety
disorder
(GAD)
ead to mistakes.• Muscle tension
reliable, well designed
and useful. As
the quality
of the
• Headaches
with mental
GAD are
chronic
worriers
who feel anxious
bridge automationPeople
increases,
load
is likely
to
• proven
nearly all of the time, though they may not even know why.
Fatigueto influence performance
s that have been
decrease.
physical symptoms
likedeinsomnia, stomach upset,
Insomnia
• Load due to taskOften
watch keeping•are:
characteristics:
the mental
restlessness,
and fatigue
mands experienced
by the individual
due toare
the evident.
nature
Many
peoplewhere
with anxiety
disorders
me of day: many
accidents
workload
is an is-also suffer
andfrom
difficulty of tasks such as navigation and watch
some point. Anxiety and depression
are
e, tend to occurdepression
early in theat
morning
keeping.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Unwantedconsequences
thoughts or behaviours
that seem impossible to
to stem occur
from the
same
biological• vulnerability,
ift handovers: believed
many accidents
at the
beginSeverity of the perceived
of making
stop ornot
control.
Obsessions,
as a recurring worry or
which
maya explain
they so
often go hand
in hand. this involves
g or end of a shift,
when
seafarerwhy
is either
trying
a mistake:
only the
immediatesuch
but the
uncontrollable
compulsions,
such as repeated handwashSince
makes or
anxiety
worse (andcommercial
vice versa),consequences
assess and absorb
thedepression
current situation
may be
of making
a mistake..
important
to seek
treatment
• Manning levels: ing.
eparing to hand it’s
over,
distracted
by thoughts
of fifor
- both conditions.
sufficient qualified and/or experien-
attacks,
panic attacks,
are episodes
intense
hing the shift. InAnxiety
either case,
theorseafarer
not be fully
cedofcrew
members available for tasks that need to be
Panic number
disorder
panic
or fear. Anxiety attacks usually occur suddenly
and
ncentrating on the
task
performed.
As the•required
of qualified and/or
unexpected
panic attacks,
without warning.
Sometimes
there’s an obvious
trigger, but
e number of persons
on watch:
many accidents
experienced
crew Repeated,
members increases,
individual
mentalas well as the fear
of experiencing them. Panic disorder may also be accomin aother
cases,
thewatch
attacks
come out of the blue.
d to occur when
seafarer
is on
alone
load is likely to decrease.
e technology used: many vessels now have nu-
• Fatigue: affects the
panied
by agoraphobia,
whichand
is acan
fear of being in places
seafarer’s
mental capacity
where
escape
or help
would be diffi
cult in the event of a
attacks
usually
peak
within ten minutes,
they times,
rous automatedAnxiety
systems.
Seafarers
can
become
slow and
reaction
ability
to process
information,
etc..
panic
attack. An
individual
suffering
rarely
lastand
more
than
an hour,
that
short of fatigue
er-reliant on these
aids,
thus
lesshalf
vigilant,
or but duringAs
feelings
increase,
so too
will feelings
of from agoraphobia,
time, the terror
be preferring
so severe to
that the individual
feels as
y not use the navigational
aidscan
at all,
mental load..
is likely to avoid public places such as shopping malls or
• Load
confinedtask
spaces
such as(i.e.
an airplane.
they are going
to die
or not
totally
The physical
vigate by visualifreferences,
or they
may
fullylose control.
due to concurrent
demands:
other
are themselves so frightening thattasks
many
believe
derstand how tosymptoms
use the aids.
that
may have to be performed by the seafarer,
Phobia
are goingaround
to havethe
a heart
attack. After an
anxiety
vironment: thethey
environment
seafarer
in conjunction
with• his/her
primary tasks): these can in-
Antasks,
unrealistic
or exaggerated
fear of a specific object, acattackperformance.
is over, the individual
may be
aboutadministrative
having
watch can influence
For example,
if worriedclude
monitoring
onboard operatitivity, or
situation
that in tasks.
reality Ifpresents
anotherall
one,
particularly
in a public
where
isn’t nearby
seafarer can conduct
tasks
whilst sitting
down, place
it
ons, help
monitoring
traffi
c or personal
there little or no danger.
available
escape
nottheir
easy.ability to
n make them less
vigilant,orand
reduce
Common
phobias
includeload
fearisoflikely
animals such as snakes
are too many concurrent
tasks,
the mental
itch between low and high cognitive workloads.
to increase.
Symptoms of an anxiety attack include: •
and spiders, fear of flying, and fear of heights.
Quality of crew competence: the level of training,
•
•
•
•
Surge of overwhelming panic
7
3
• degree
Post-traumatic
stress disorder
experience, morale,
of communication,
etc. of
An anxiety
that can
occurthe
in the aftermath of a
the crew. If the quality
of crewdisorder
competence
is good,
traumatic
or life-threatening
event. Symptoms of PTSD
Feeling of losing control or going crazy mental load on individual
seafarers
is likely to decrease.
Heart palpitations or chest pain
Feeling faint
• Dealing with contingencies:
include flashbacks
oranightmares
such as
systems orabout what happened,
hypervigilance,
startling easily,
withdrawing from others,
parts failure. As the
number or seriousness
of situations
increases, mental and
loadavoiding
may alsosituations
increase.that bring back memories of the
event.
3
7
International
Seafarers’
Welfare
and Assistance Network
International Committee
on Seafarers’
Welfare
• Social anxiety disorder
A debilitating fear of being seen negatively by others and
humiliated in public, also known as social phobia. Social
anxiety disorder can be thought of as extreme shyness.
In severe cases, social situations are avoided altogether.
Performance anxiety (better known as stage fright) is the
most common type of social phobia.
Not everyone who worries a lot has an anxiety disorder. A
seafarer may be anxious because of an overly demanding
schedule, lack of exercise or sleep, pressure at home or
work, or even from too much coffee.
Encouraging the seafarer to share their problems can
help enormously. It is important to listen sympathetically
Symptoms include:
•
•
•
•
•
depressed mood
loss of interest or pleasure
feelings of much sadness, or little to no emotion
less interest in things that are normally fun
changing appetite (eating less, or, less commonly,
eating more) and weight fluctuation
• sleeping less or, in some cases, sleeping more
• fatigue (feeling tired) of mind and body
• feelings of guilt, helplessness, anxiety, and/or fear,
often with little or no reason
• lowered self-esteem
• thinking about death or suicide (and an increased risk
of committing suicide)
• drug or alcohol use
to what they have to say, but also to remain objective and
apply common sense.
Depression is a loaded word in our culture. Many associate it, however wrongly, with a sign of weakness and
6.
Depression
excessive emotion.
This is especially true with men. Depressed men are less
Depression can be considered in two forms. The first has
likely than women to acknowledge feelings of self-loathing
an obvious cause, such as the death of a close friend and
and hopelessness.
is called situational depression. It is a normal reaction to
Depression in men is very often expressed in more “so-
events around us. However, clinical depression over-
cially acceptable” forms. Anger, aggression, reckless be-
whelms and engulfs day to day life, interfering with ability
haviour and violence, along with substance abuse, can be
to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. It is unrelenting,
signs of an underlying depression. Even though depres-
with little if any relief.
sion rates for women are twice as high as those in men,
men have a higher suicide risk, especially older men.
8
8
The seafarer may be emotionally up one day and down
Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. The deep
the next to the extent of being morose and even sullen.
despair and hopelessness that go along with depression
It may be difficult to get a clear story from a depressed
can make suicide feel like the only way to make the pain
seafarer because they simply want to be left alone.
go away.
Very depressed people may commit suicide and it is
Suicidal individuals often give warning signs or signals of
therefore essential to recognize those at risk so that
their intentions. The best way to prevent suicide is to know
correct precautionary measures can be taken. A natural
and watch for these warning signs and to get involved if
progression of questioning about the patient’s general
they are spotted. If a friend or family member is suicidal,
feelings might establish whether suïcide has been con-
play a role in suicide prevention by pointing out the alter-
templated.
natives, showing care, and getting a professional involved.
Guidelines
forMerchant
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Merchant
Guidelines
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Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard Merchant
ShipsShips
Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard
Ships
otony
7.
Fatigue
Performance
A mentally ill person may experience delusions or hallucinations and is then called psychotic.
Fatigue
performance,
certainly
are many examples
of can
tasksinfl
inuence
the modern
world and,One
of thewhen
first negative effects of mental problems may be
high
or low workloads,
to an
In a delusion
the patient
and hears the same as
ly crucially on acombined
person’s with
ability
to maintain
their fo- lead
seen
in aaccident.
seafarer’s performance
in their
job. Bysees
the same
attention over long periods of time. Indeed, on board
else, but
attaches wrong
token, the factors that anybody
lead to reduced
performance
are conclusions to it, that
A combination
of the
minimum
manning, rapid
turnarounds
are
out ofand
paceconsewith reality or generally ache increasing trend
to automate
work environstressors
that may lead
to completely
mental overload
and short
sea
passages,
adverse
weather
and traffi
c
cepted
ideas.
has resulted in jobs
shifting
away
from active
to more
quently
psychological
or
mental
problems. Some of these
visory roles
conditions, may find seafarers working long
with
riskhours
factors
for mental health are:
A hallucination is a perception that is experienced as a
insufficient recuperative rest.
following watch keeping tasks, any lack of vigilance
reality
by the hallucinating
but nevertheless is not
• Quality of automated
systems:
e.g. easy to patient,
use,
performance
in line
with
whatAs
really
happens
ead to mistakes.In these circumstances, fatigue and reducedreliable,
well designed
and
useful.
the quality
of and
the what is experienced
may lead to ill-health and reduced life-span amongst
seaby anybodymental
else. load is likely to
bridge automation
increases,
farers,
as well
increase
the possibility of environmental
s that have been
proven
to inflas
uence
performance
decrease.
Paranoia is oftenthe
associated
with psychotic disease.
• Load due to task characteristics:
mental de-
watch keepingdamage,
are:
is a thought
characterized by excessive
mands experiencedParanoia
by the individual
dueprocess
to the nature
Many
of the where
established
risk factors
anxiety
often toand
the watch
point of irrationality and delume of day: many
accidents
workload
is an is-for fatigue
andare
diffipresent
culty of tasks
such or
asfear,
navigation
Themorning
likelihood of reporting impairedkeeping.
health as a
e, tend to occuronboard.
early in the
sion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory be-
fatigue increases
in relation
of the perceived
liefs concerning
a perceived
threat towards oneself. The
• frequency
ift handovers: result
many of
accidents
occur at the
begin- to the
Severity of
consequences
of making
exposure
toseafarer
them. is either trying
g or end of a shift,
when a
individual
thinks
harm is but
going
a mistake: this involves
not only
thethat
immediate
theto occur to him/her and
assess and absorb the current situation or may be
that the persecutor
going to cause harm to him/her.
commercial consequences
of making aismistake..
reduces by
well-being
factor levels: sufficient qualified and/or experien• risk
eparing to hand Fatigue
over, distracted
thoughtsand
of fiis
- a major
Manning
mental
health
such
depression.
It alsomembersPsychotic
may
be present
hing the shift. Inforeither
case,
the problems
seafarer not
beas
fully
ced crew
available symptoms
for tasks that
need
to be with several psychi-
increases
atric illnesses,
including
bipolar disorder,
ncentrating on the
task the risk of acute illnesses, and life-threatening
performed. As the required
number
of qualifischizophrenia,
ed and/or
chronic on
disease,
such
as accidents
cardiovascular diseases.
borderlineincreases,
personality
disordermental
and drug intoxication.
e number of persons
watch:
many
experienced crew members
individual
d to occur when a seafarer is on watch alone
load is likely to decrease.
A range
of strategies
is needed
to deal with
fatigue with
• Fatigue:
more general
medical
and and
neurological
examination
e technology used:
many
vessels now
have nuaffects theAseafarer’s
mental
capacity
can
input
from management
be to
needed
to rule
out medical
rous automatedpositive
systems.
Seafarers
can becomeand workforce
slowreprereaction times,may
ability
process
information,
etc..illnesses which may
sentatives,
provide
them
rarely
produce
schizophrenia-like
symptoms,
er-reliant on these
aids, andtothus
lessseafarers
vigilant, orwith skills that
As allow
feelings
of fatigue
increase,
so psychotic
too will feelings
of
to identify and
counter it.to
y not use the navigational
aidspossibly
at all, preferring
vigate by visual references, or they may not fully
mental load..
such as metabolic disturbance, systemic infection, syphi-
• Load due to concurrent
lis, HIVtask
infection,
epilepsy,
brain lesions.
demands:
(i.e.and
other
greatthat
as may have to be performed by the seafarer,
derstand how toThe
useimpairments
the aids. produced by fatigue are astasks
produced
by exceeding
the legal alcohol
limit for
may be
necessary
to these
rule out
a delirium,
which can be
vironment: thethose
environment
around
the seafarer
in conjunction
with Ithis/her
primary
tasks):
can
in-
driving.
watch can influence
performance. For example, if
by visual
hallucinations,
clude administrativedistinguished
tasks, monitoring
onboard
operati- acute onset and
seafarer can conduct all tasks whilst sitting down, it
fluctuating
level
of consciousness,
and indicates an underons, monitoring nearby
traffic or
personal
tasks. If there
n make them less vigilant, and reduce their ability to
8.
lying medical
illness.
are too many concurrent
tasks, the
mental load is likely
Disruptive thinkingtoand
increase.
behaviour
• Quality of crew competence:
Anti-psychotic
be needed in first aid onboard
thedrugs
level may
of training,
3
itch between low and high cognitive workloads.
9
should
used preferably
after
experience, morale,but
degree
ofbe
communication,
etc.
of medical advice.
Any seafarer with severe psychotic mental illness
will If the quality of crew competence is good, the
the crew.
require a great deal of care and attention. It mental
is wise load
to on individual
In any seafarers
way the patient
should
be monitored continuously.
is likely
to decrease.
assume that their behaviour may be so unpredictable
as contingencies:
• Dealing with
This normally
means
shouldornever be left alone, but
such
as a he
systems
to become violent or suicidal, possibly without
provocation
presenceof
ofsituations
another person may cause
parts
failure. As thesometimes
number or the
seriousness
or warning. In such cases, professional medical
advicemental load
moremay
upset
and
agitation. Although communication with
increases,
also
increase.
should be sought as a matter of urgency.
the patient may be impossible and continuous monitoring
3
9
International
Seafarers’
Welfare
and Assistance Network
International Committee
on Seafarers’
Welfare
may be very demanding. Patience and a reassuring tone
and attitude may have a beneficial effect and are impor-
• Ecstasy may give increased colour perception, enhanced empathy, excessive drinking of water or cola.
• Benzodiazepines (known as: eggs, jelly babies, rugby
tant.
balls, benzos, valium, temazzies, moggies) lead to
9.
Addiction to alcohol
and drugs
tiredness and drowsiness, emotionality, aggressions,
unusual behaviour, slurred speech, confusion, unsteadiness.
• Phencyclidine (known as: ashy larry, angel dust, jui-
Because of the international character of maritime work,
ce, rocket fuel, ozone) causes slurred speech, blurred
shipping companies and employees are confronted by
vision, numbness, nausea and vomiting, unsteady gait,
local legislation on drugs and alcohol, international agree-
loss of coordination, increased heart rate and altered
ments, maritime guidelines and charter party clauses that
body temperature. It leads to hallucinations, delusional
outline drug and alcohol policies.
ideas, delirium or confused thinking and unpredictable
mood states.
These laws and regulations require shipping companies to
• Alcohol affects coordination and reaction times, may
have random and emergency ‘for cause’ drug and alcohol
lead to reduced consciousness, low body temperature,
testing systems in place, as well as testing during periodic
slow heart rate, and slow breathing.
medical examinations.
In spite of policies and controls, a seafarer presenting
A company policy on drug and alcohol testing has to be:
changes in behaviour may still by thought to be under
fair and reasonable; developed in consultation; clearly
influence of substances. A mental problem or change may
stated and well explained; and applied in a reasonable
be caused by drugs or alcohol and the testing of urine,
and consistent manner.
saliva or blood is an important part of an assessment in
case of mental problems onboard. The following evidence
Although the above explains some of the general outlines
may help explain a sudden change in the mental state of
and principles on drugs and alcohol in the maritime indus-
a fellow crewmember:
try today, it should be stressed that most drugs used have
deteriorating effects on a seafarer’s health.
• Butt ends of hand rolled cigarettes, large cigarette
papers
Alcohol and drugs cause financial, medical and mental
problems as follows:
• Syringes and needles, handbag mirrors, razor blades,
straws
• Blackened tinfoil, bent spoons, spent matches, bottle
• Cannabis (marijuana, hashish) causes lack of coordination, red eyes, dilated pupils and increased heart
rate. It leads to irrelevant giggling, euphoria, anxiety
and altered perception.
10
• Cocaine may lead to increased pulse rate and blood
pressure, dilated pupils, euphoria, hallucinations and
paranoid delusions.
• Morphine causes contracted pupils, and may lead to
euphoria and drowsiness.
• Amphetamines give jerky movements, dry mouth,
lack of appetite, inability to sleep and exhaustion, confused thinking, mood swings, aggressive behaviour,
10
abundance of energy and psychosis.
caps
• Folded wraps, white greyish powder, multicolour
tablets,
• Injectable ampoules
• Hidden bottles
Guidelines
forMerchant
Dental
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Merchant
Guidelines
for Dental
Care
Onboard
Merchant
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Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard Merchant
ShipsShips
Guidelines
for Mental
Care
Onboard
Ships
otony
Performance
10. Mental Care onboard
Clarity of roles and responsibilities: all seafarers should
know what their tasks are and what they are responsible
Theseofdays,
employment
of multinational
crews,
are many examples
tasksthe
in the
modern world
One of
the first negative
of mental
problems
mayAs
bethe clarity of roles
foreffects
whilst on
watch on
the bridge.
of recruitment
andtheir
casual
means
ly crucially on adispersion
person’s ability
to maintain
fo- employment,
seen in a seafarer’s
performance
in their job.
By the same
and responsibilities
increases,
the quality of crew compethat itperiods
is not always
to identify
mental
problems
in
attention over long
of time.easy
Indeed,
on board
token,
the factors
that tence
lead toalso
reduced
performance are
increases.
seafarers
from diverse
backgrounds.
sensitivity
he increasing trend
to automate
the work
environ- However
stressors
that may lead to mental overload and conse-
to mental
problems
remains
heart quently
of good psychological
managehas resulted in jobs
shifting
away from
activeattothe
more
or
mental
Some of these
Degree
ofproblems.
collective experience:
the crew have a good
visory roles
ment and efficient ship operations.
risk factors for mental degree
health are:
of experience of working on the vessel, or the
type of vessel, and of working in certain conditions (route,
with
stress
and
reactive
depression
able to
• are
following watchThose
keeping
tasks,
any
lack
of vigilance
Quality
of automated
systems:
easy
to use,
weather,
etc.). e.g.
As the
degree
of collective experiences
and do well
not designed
ead to mistakes.return to work relatively soon after treatmentreliable,
and useful.
As theof
quality
of the
increases,
the quality
the crew
competence also innormally pose a safety risk, although for some
demanding
bridge
automation increases,
creases. mental load is likely to
tasks
it may
a while
to recover.
s that have been
proven
to take
influence
performance
watch keeping are:
decrease.
• Load due to task characteristics:
deTraining: the crewthe
aremental
all fully
trained for their roles and
More severe psychotic conditions pose a safety
riskexperienced
and
mands
by the individual
the nature
responsibilities.
Asdue
the to
degree
of training increases, the
can
only be allowed
on a shipisafter
andculty
no of tasks
me of day: many
accidents
where workload
an is-full recovery
and diffi
suchofasthenavigation
and watch
quality
crew competence
also increases.
over
a lengthy time
e, tend to occurrelapses
early in the
morning
ift handovers: many accidents occur at the begin-
keeping.
• Severity of the perceived
Level of consequences
morale on board:ofif making
the level of morale on board is
Some
of the
treatments
used trying
can have adverse
effect on
g or end of a shift,
when
a seafarer
is either
a mistake:
this involves
not only
but the effect on crew comquite poor,
thisthe
canimmediate
have an adverse
performance
at situation
work. If medication
against
assess and absorb
the current
or may be has a warning
commercial
consequences
a mistake..
petence,ofasmaking
individuals
may be reluctant to “go the extra
or working
moving
tness for levels: suffi
• fiManning
eparing to hand “driving
over, distracted
by with
thoughts
of fimachinery”
cient
qualifi
ed and/or
experienmile”
during
watch.
Conversely,
if the level of morale on
may have
reviewedced crew membersboard
hing the shift. Insafety
eithercritical
case, tasks
the seafarer
not to
bebe
fully
available
for tasks
to bea positive effect on comis good,
then that
this need
can have
Anytask
seafarer who appears to be deeply depressed
or As the required
ncentrating on the
performed.
qualifi
ed and/orfeelings of overloading.
petence,number
which inofturn
decreases
who talks
suicidemany
should
never be left outexperienced
of sight. In crew members
e number of persons
onofwatch:
accidents
individual
mental
Degree ofincreases,
communication
refers
to the degree of com-
practice
this is
can
difficult,
but the seafarerload
should
be to decrease.
d to occur when
a seafarer
onbe
watch
alone
is likely
munication amongst the crew, and includes both the level
confined
to avessels
cabin and
there under
• supervision.
e technology used:
many
nowremain
have nuFatigue: affects theofseafarer’s
mental
capacity
and
can of information being
information
sharing
and the
quality
deck isSeafarers
a dangerous
and the ship’s
side
may betimes,shared.
rous automatedThe
systems.
can place
become
slow
reaction
ability to
process
information, etc..means that information
Very
good communication
a temptation.
Obvious
takenof fatigue
er-reliant on these
aids, and thus
less precautions
vigilant, or should also
As be
feelings
increase,
so too and
will feelings
of
sharing
is optimal,
that the information
being shared
regarding the
removal
of medicines,
sharp
y not use the navigational
aids
at all, preferring
to potentially
mental
load..
is necessary and correct. As the quality of information
• Professional
and items
such
string
vigate by visualobjects
references,
or they
mayasnot
fullyand rope.
Load due to concurrent
taskthe
demands:
increases,
quality of(i.e.
the other
crew competence will also
possible.
derstand how tomedical
use theadvice
aids. should be sought as soon astasks
that may have
to be performed by the seafarer,
increase.
vironment: the environment around the seafarer
in conjunction with his/her primary tasks): these can in-
Many performance.
seafarers whoFor
areexample,
feeling stressed
or clude
anxious
while
watch can influence
if
administrative
tasks, monitoring onboard operatiat sea fiall
nd tasks
that counselling
bydown,
welfare
inmonitoring
port can nearby traffic or personal tasks. If there
seafarer can conduct
whilst sitting
it workers
ons,
be vigilant,
of great and
help.reduce their ability to
n make them less
are too many concurrent tasks, the mental load is likely
The
ability
maintainworkloads.
contact with family and
also
itch between low
and
highto
cognitive
to friends
increase.
helps to lessen the feelings of loneliness•andQuality
isolation
of crew competence: the level of training,
3
experience, morale, degree of communication, etc. of
11
Rest management refers to how well rest periods
are Ifconthe crew.
the quality of crew competence is good, the
trolled and allocated by the master, and managed
theon individual seafarers is likely to decrease.
mentalby
load
individual seafarer, to ensure that he/she•gets
enough
restcontingencies: such as a systems or
Dealing
with
time and doesn’t sacrifice that time for moreparts
shorefailure.
leave As the number or seriousness of situations
or to catch up on tasks that should have been
completed
increases,
mental load may also increase.
whilst on duty.
3
11
International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network
International Committee on Seafarers’Welfare
International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network
International Committee on Seafarers’Welfare
11. Tips for successful
implementation of a
campaign
11. Mental
Tips for Care
successful
The ship,implementation
where seafarers not only workof
but spend
a all their
time during a voyage, is the best place for health intervenMental Care campaign
tion. The following measures may therefore be considered
The
ship,towhere
seafarers
not only
work buttospend
their
in
order
encourage
a sensible
approach
MentalallCare:
time during a voyage, is the best place for health interven-
Link MENTAL CARE with SHIP topics on SAFE TRAVEL.
Provide FIT ONBOARD and other SHIP health initiatives.
Link MENTAL CARE with SHIP topics on SAFE TRAVEL.
Provide FIT
ONBOARD
other advice?
SHIP health initiatives.
12.
Where
toandfind
12. Where to find advice?
tion. The following
measures
may therefore
Encourage
and stimulate
the crew
membersbe
to considered
prevent
in
order
to
encourage
a
sensible
approach
to
Mental
mental problems. Draw attention to the prevention of Care:
mental problems in meetings, at medical check-ups etc.
Encourage and stimulate the crew members to prevent
mental
problems.
Drawtoattention
to the
prevention
of menUse
a broad
approach
inform and
motivate
the seafarers
tal problems
in information
meetings, atand
medical
check-ups etc.
onboard.
Offer
protection.
Use whole
a broad
approach
to inform
theproseafarers
The
ship’s
company
has toand
be motivate
behind the
onboard.
Offer
information
and
protection.
gramme: captain and of¿cers have to show their commitment.
The whole ship’s company has to be behind the programme:
captain
and of
of¿good
cers policy
have todevelopment
show their commitIt
is not only
a matter
but also
ment.
of good policy implementation. It takes time to implement a
prevention programme onboard. Make sure it gets where it
It is
not onlyBehavioural
a matter of changes
good policy
but also
is
needed.
takedevelopment
several months
and
of good
implementation.
timemeasurable.
to implement a
bene¿
ts policy
may take
even longer Ittotakes
become
prevention programme onboard. Make sure it gets where it
is needed.
Behavioural
takewant
several
monthswith
and
Make
a systematic
planchanges
of what you
to achieve
bene¿tsto
may
even longer
to become
measurable.
respect
the take
prevention
of mental
problems
onboard and
over what period of time. Involve key persons and link to a
Make a systematic
plan of what you want to achieve with
company
policy on health.
respect to the prevention of mental problems onboard and
over what
of time.make
Involve
key
persons
and
link to a
Budget
theperiod
programme,
sure
the
activities
adopted
company
policy
onbe
health.
are
evaluated
and
prepared to adapt the plan if some
initiatives are not as successful as others.
Budget the programme, make sure the activities adopted
12
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ISWAN is happy to
be supported by:
International Seafarers’ Welfare and
Assistance Network
Seafarers’ Health Information Programme
Email:
[email protected]
International
Seafarers’ Welfare and
Assistance Network
Seafarers’
Health Information Programme
www.seafarershealth.org
www.seafarerswelfare.org
Email: [email protected]
are evaluated
be prepared
to adapt
the plan
some to
Announce
the and
planning
and changes,
organise
anif event
initiatives the
are start
not as
celebrate
ofsuccessful
the plan. as others.
If you want to do more and get more information and
Announce
the planning
and changes,
organise
an event
Provide
information
(posters
or leaÀets)
on prevention
of to
celebrate
the startallofover
the plan.
mental
problems
the ship.
go to www.seafarershealth.org where you can download
If you want posters
to do more
information
and for
guidelines,
andand
leaÀget
ets more
on other
health topics
Provide
(posters
or leaÀ
ets)
on prevention
Ask
crewinformation
members to
participate
and
comment
on the of
mental
problems
all
over
the
ship.
campaign, and complete questionnaires. Give seafarers
12
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The lifeline 624 818 405
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818 405
the opportunity to make suggestions on prevention activiAsk crew members to participate and comment on the
ties.
campaign, and complete questionnaires. Give seafarers
the opportunity to make suggestions on prevention activi-
www.seafarershealth.org
www.seafarerswelfare.org
material
to improve the condition of seafarers onboard,
material to: improve the condition of seafarers onboard,
seafarers
go to www.seafarershealth.org
where you
can Food,
download
Food
Safety, Fit onboard, Safe Travel,
Healthy
guidelines,
posters and
ets on other health topics for
Malaria,
Overweight
andleaÀ
HIV/Aids.
seafarers :
Food Safety, Fit onboard, Safe Travel, Healthy Food,
Malaria, Overweight and HIV/Aids.