Op-Ed: Mental Health Care is Safety-Critical, Not an Added Benefit

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As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. If mental health is not treated as safety-critical, we risk losing a whole generation of seafarers who are not willing to sacrifice their health for a career, regardless of how well-paid it is.

Life at sea can be unforgiving, seafarers face long stretches away from home, shift patterns that disrupt sleep, demanding operational pressures, isolation, harsh weather, and often little privacy.

We are already seeing heightened anxiety in younger seafarers before they have even stepped foot on the ship. Some of this is genuine incidence, some is better recognition and willingness to disclose. Younger seafarers often report performance pressure, financial insecurity, and digital overexposure earlier in their careers.

Mental health is far too often treated as an added benefit for crew, but the industry must view it as safety-critical if we are to make any progress in reducing the number of serious mental health episodes and suicides among seafarers.

Go to this link to read the full article published by The Maritime Executive https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/op-ed-mental-health-care-is-safety-critical-not-an-added-benefit