MHSS – Mental Health Support Solutions, set up to provide support services exclusively to the maritime sector offering psychological consultations for seafarers needing support for themselves or their crew, has launched a new initiative called ‘Stop Assuming. Start Asking’.

Recently, as part of the campaign, the team has interviewed Captain Andrzej Lasota, the Polish master who was held in a Mexican prison for 20 months on charges of smuggling cocaine despite immediately notifying the authorities when he spotted the drugs. The case has raised industry-wide concerns about the criminalisation of innocent seafarers and the full interview, where Captain Andrzej talks in-depth about his experiences, can be seen by clicking here.

MHSS developed Stop Assuming. Start Asking in direct response to a series of interviews with people working in maritime including mental health ambassador Bjorn Brodje from Nordic P&I Group, current seafarers and senior officers. These discussions highlighted that those working at the coal face are the best people to express what is needed to support seafarer wellbeing both while at sea and ashore. The objective of the initiative is to give voice to mariners and ensure that there is a space for their views to be heard by the industry as a whole.

Charles Watkins, CEO of MHSS, said: “The message coming over loud and clear is that everyone needs to communicate in a positive way – whether to ask a fellow seafarer how they are doing, or for senior figures to take the time to help someone rectify a mistake without laying blame. With our Stop Assuming. Start Asking campaign we want to create an atmosphere of honesty and transparency where there is no fear attached to admitting that you need help, either with your work or with your wellbeing. We are providing a platform for anyone who would like to add to the discussion surrounding welfare and mental health so that the industry has access to the opinions that should really count – those people working at sea.”