How to Look After Employee & Crew Mental Wellbeing

Supporting mental wellbeing in the maritime industry is vital for safety, retention, and productivity. Seafarers often work in isolated, high-pressure environments that can lead to stress, fatigue, or depression. Employers can help by offering reliable communication access, promoting psychological safety, providing mental health training, and building a culture where speaking up is safe. When crew members feel supported, they stay longer, perform better, and contribute to safer operations. 

Introduction 

When you employ or manage people in the maritime industry, you know that you have responsibilities towards their mental health and wellbeing, whether they’re working in a shore-based maritime job or they’re at sea onboard one of your vessels and working in a seafarer job. 

Indeed, no matter what industry you work in, there’s a lot of talk around employee mental health at the moment, but in an often-stressful environment such as shipping, the need to protect your staff and seafarers can be even more urgent. 

From high risk, physically demanding roles such as seafarer jobs to work that involves long hours at a desk and little rest from constant phone calls and emails, employees in the maritime industry can be vulnerable to mental health issues that are work-related.

In addition to this, maritime academies worldwide produce tens of thousands of new cadets every year.

Read more: World Day for Safety & Health at Work: Supporting Seafarers

And every year, these fledgling seafarers more or less have the same ambitions: they want to succeed in the maritime industry by climbing the ranks one at a time.

These men and women set sail on ships with reputable shipping companies with their newly acquired skills and training, serve on board for a while, and then strive to advance in rank.

But despite the lucrative job offers, the exciting workplace, and the “globetrotting” lifestyle, many seafarers still leave their ship positions in favor of chances on land.

Why is this the case? Can employers do anything to minimize this problem?

And is this all somehow related to a seafarer’s mental well-being?

Why can seafarer jobs be stressful?

Life at sea can be both fulfilling and demanding. According to the Seafarers Happiness Index 2025, nearly 40% of crew members reported feeling isolated or emotionally fatigued during their contracts. Several key factors contribute to this challenge: 

• A nomadic lifestyle – The early excitement of travel can turn into fatigue as priorities shift toward family and stability. Over time, prolonged separations impact emotional resilience. 

• Limited social connection – Crew rotation and cultural differences may prevent strong bonds from forming onboard. Loneliness is one of the top three causes of poor wellbeing among seafarers, according to ITF Seafarers’ Trust Research. 

• Distance from family – Technology helps, but erratic connectivity remains a challenge for emotional connection. Missing key life moments takes a toll on morale and long-term retention. 

• Workload and fatigue – Long watches, unpredictable weather, and administrative duties create cumulative stress. Fatigue management remains a top safety issue per the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

How to look after employee and crew mental wellbeing

Mental health challenges are not limited to those at sea - office staff, recruiters, and fleet management teams can also experience burnout. As a leader or employer, taking a structured approach can make a difference. 

• Normalize wellbeing conversations within your company. 

• Assess risk factors using data from exit interviews or safety reports. 

• Integrate mental health into HSE policy, not just as an afterthought. 

The Mission to Seafarers recommends developing wellbeing frameworks that combine pastoral care, regular communication, and peer support networks. 

How to prioritize your employees’ mental health

Even as society becomes more open about mental health, stigma lingers in many male-dominated industries like shipping. According to Mind UK, 30% of employees fear job loss if they disclose mental health struggles. 

Create trust before issues arise: 

1. Encourage open dialogue – Leaders who discuss their own challenges set a tone of empathy. 
2. Train managers to identify warning signs of distress (withdrawal, irritability, performance dips). 
3. Highlight support channels such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or confidential counseling. 
4. Model balance – Encourage rest periods and realistic workloads to prevent burnout. 

As Priory Group research shows, nearly 40% of men still won’t discuss mental health, reinforcing why subtle, proactive outreach is crucial. 

Tread carefully around the conversation

Handling mental health isn’t just about offering resources – it’s about how you approach the subject. Compassion, privacy, and consistency form the foundation. 

1. Provide practical coping tools. Offer stress management courses or mindfulness resources. Organizations such as The Samaritans host free materials for maritime use. 
2. Guarantee confidentiality. Make sure HR and officers maintain strict privacy standards. Breaches destroy trust quickly. 
3. Spot the signs. Learn the indicators of declining mental health; charities like Rethink Mental Illness provide checklists. 
4. Offer accessible reporting options. Anonymous digital surveys or wellbeing check-ins can reveal trends without pressure. 
5. Invest in comfort and connection. Reliable internet access, communal activities, or small leisure improvements can significantly boost morale. 

Read more:  5 Tips for Clearer Communication in the Maritime Industry 

Why does crew and employee mental wellbeing matter?

Good mental health is not only an ethical issue but also an operational one. The UK Chamber of Shipping estimates that improved crew wellbeing can reduce turnover by up to 25%, saving significant recruitment and training costs. 

Healthy, supported seafarers: 

• Work more safely and efficiently. 

• Make fewer errors caused by fatigue or distraction. 

• Build stronger team cohesion onboard. 

• Stay loyal to employers who care for them. 

Like physical fitness, mental strength helps sustain long voyages, manage uncertainty, and adapt to rapid changes in maritime technology. Creating a healthy environment benefits everyone - from the bridge to the back office. 

Mental health training for the maritime industry

Training transforms awareness into action. Leadership and HR teams should update programs annually and tailor them for both shore and sea-based staff. 

Recommended areas to include: 

• Mental health first aid (see MHFA England or similar accredited providers). 

• Suicide awareness and crisis intervention. 

• Fatigue management in line with IMO rest hours. 

• Cultural sensitivity and neurodiversity awareness. 

• Peer support networks for early intervention. 

The Seafarers Mental Health Code of Practice (Nautilus International, 2024) encourages integration of mental health policies into Safety Management Systems (SMS), ensuring that emotional wellbeing is treated as an essential safety component. 

When your company actively supports wellbeing, it builds a reputation as an employer of choice. Crew are more likely to stay longer, perform better, and speak positively about your brand. 

Read more: Top Crew Retention Strategies 

Conclusion 

The wellbeing of your crew and employees is more than a company responsibility - it’s a cornerstone of maritime safety, operational efficiency, and long-term retention. When leaders normalise mental health conversations, invest in communication access, and provide proper training, they create workplaces where people feel valued both onshore and at sea. 

Supporting the mental health of seafarers is not just about preventing burnout or reducing turnover - it’s about building resilient teams who can handle the demands of modern maritime life with confidence and care. By taking proactive steps and partnering with organisations such as the Mission to Seafarers, the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, or SeafarerHelp, maritime employers can help ensure that every voyage is safer, healthier, and more connected. 

FAQs about crew mental wellbeing 

1. What are early signs a seafarer might be struggling mentally? 

Changes in behavior, isolation, irritability, lack of motivation, or reduced concentration can all indicate underlying distress. Regular, informal check-ins help spot these signs early. 

2. How can small shipping companies support mental wellbeing without large budgets? 

Small firms can focus on training supervisors, offering flexible rotations, and building partnerships with charities like Mission to Seafarers for mental health support helplines. 

3. Do younger cadets face different mental health challenges? 

Yes. Younger crew often struggle with homesickness and adjustment to shipboard hierarchy. Mentorship programs can help build resilience and belonging. 

4. What role does digital connectivity play? 

High-quality internet access is now seen as a core welfare requirement. Connectivity supports morale, family communication, and access to telehealth or counseling services. 

5. Are there international standards for mental health at sea? 

While not yet mandatory, organizations like the IMO and ILO encourage companies to embed wellbeing into management systems under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) framework. 

This blog post was originally published on September 6th 2022 and last updated on January 11th 2026