As World Mental Health Day (October 10) approaches, global maritime healthcare leader VIKAND is calling for the maritime industry to recognise that real change on mental health will only come through stronger compliance and regulatory requirements — not voluntary goodwill.

Despite rising awareness and the introduction of new tools, stigma, entrenched culture, and cost sensitivity continue to prevent meaningful investment in crew mental health. While VIKAND’s OneHealth telehealth programme reports that just 2.1% of healthcare encounters relate to mental health concerns, conditions such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and adjustment disorders remain underreported — a sign that many seafarers are still suffering in silence.

“We can’t expect stigma to disappear overnight, or for shipowners to simply volunteer greater investment in mental health,” said Martin Hedman, Director of Mental Wellness Practices at VIKAND. “Unfortunately, what is truly needed for change is regulation — frameworks that compel companies to take responsibility and integrate preventive mental healthcare into operations.”

Recent developments support this direction. The 2022 Maritime Labour Convention Amendments (effective December 2024), the new STCW Amendments addressing bullying, harassment and assault, the EU Supply Chain Act, and the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) all place crew welfare squarely under the spotlight.

Indeed just last year, VIKAND published a whitepaper highlighting the Implications of the EU Sustainability Directives on the Maritime Industry. All these frameworks introduce accountability, transparency, and,  in some cases, penalties for non-compliance.

Yet, despite regulatory momentum, VIKAND observes low engagement among crews themselves, with many seafarers hesitant to seek help due to fear of professional repercussions. Mr Hedman explained: “The burden of change cannot rest on seafarers. If compliance forces companies to take an active role, seafarers will feel safer to speak up, knowing support is part of the system rather than an individual risk.”

VIKAND’s mental wellness solutions provide crucial support for crew members, helping to protect not just their personal welfare, but also the overall sustainability of the maritime industry. The suite of specially designed tools and services strengthen crew mental wellbeing, resilience and coping mechanisms, while empowering seafarers to sustain good mental health and a safe working environment. They include 24/7 remote emergency mental health support, training programmes and resilience profiling.

The impact of VIKAND’s solutions can be seen in the case of a 45-year-old senior officer onboard a cargo vessel who reported persistent depressive symptoms, including low mood, social withdrawal, and poor sleep. While he was able to perform his duties and showed no signs of suicidal thoughts or psychosis, his mental wellbeing was a concern due to the critical nature of his role.

The OneHealth telehealth team conducted a remote assessment, confirming he was medically fit to continue working while initiating psychological support. Through immediate counselling and referral, he accessed therapy sessions while still onboard, ensuring timely care without disrupting operations. This example demonstrates how telehealth provides a vital safety net, enabling early intervention, continuity of care, and the protection of both individual wellbeing and vessel safety.

Another tool offered by VIKAND is its innovative Crew Wellness Pulse Check, which encourages seafarers to share their mental health status anonymously, providing real-time insights for ship managers and creating opportunities for early intervention.

Using welfare pulse sampling and nudging techniques, seafarers respond to questions designed to gauge emotional wellbeing. Answers of concern can trigger voluntary consultations with mental health professionals and this friendly, non-intrusive approach has resulted in engagement levels exceeding 80%, helping crews access support proactively before issues escalate.

“As the maritime industry reflects on this year’s World Mental Health Day theme, ‘Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies’, it’s time to face reality,” said Mr Hedman. “Only by embedding mental health into compliance and regulation will we achieve sustainable change, build resilience, and create an industry where seafarers can thrive.”