Since the pandemic hit, more than half of rotational workers, including seafarers, are suffering increased stress and anxiety, according to the SOS Foundation and Affinity Health at Work study ‘Mental Health and the Remote Rotational Workforce’ (2021).

Seafaring was already one of the most challenging jobs in the world, and now the pandemic has imposed huge levels of stress onto the maritime industry and the seafarers who keep it going.

The crew change crisis and extended contracts have led to many seafarers feeling exhausted and worried about their families back home. The daily challenges of a career at sea, such as accessing health care, vaccines or a visit to pick up essentials, have been exacerbated.

With human error accounting for more than 80 per cent of all accidents at sea in pre-pandemic times, fatigue, stress and depression on board don’t just pose a threat to seafarer mental health, but also to the effective running of a ship and the safety of its crew.

As a maritime charity that has supported seafarers, their families and communities for more than 200 years, Sailors’ Society understands the importance of investing in crew welfare alongside the more traditional skills and knowledge necessary for a career at sea.

With more than 10 years of experience in wellness training and industry-leading work on mental health, we saw the
need for a dedicated programme and launched Wellness at Sea in 2015. Combining both proactive and reactive mental health support for seafarers, Wellness at Sea aims to empower seafarers of all ranks to look after their own and others’ wellbeing across every area of their lives, giving them the best opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling career at sea.

Since its launch, Wellness at Sea has been making waves, providing wellness training to more than 34,000 seafarers to date.

The programme has developed to offer a wide range of welfare solutions beyond the original training to include e-learning, coaching, dedicated helplines, and peer-to- peer support.