Stress is one of the biggest triggers for seafarers and it is essential for them to build and maintain mental resilience to deal with crises while onboard, warns leading catering manager MCTC on World Mental Health Day.

Food has a significant role to play in helping seafarers build mental resilience and sending signals to the mind they are in a positive mental headspace, explained MCTC Health and Wellbeing Consultant Nichole Stylianou in the  recent CalmWaves podcast.

MCTC is raising awareness on the subject as industries across the world are coming together today (Friday) to shine a spotlight on mental health for World Mental Health Day with a particular focus on emergencies and catastrophes.

The podcast heard from Founder of J.Z. Light Bulb Therapy, Zeina Kreichatywho said with 70% of people suffering from stress, mental resilience is crucial to ensure people have the right tools to deal with issues as and when they arise.

“Mental resilience is our anchor. When you have mental resilience you bounce back very quickly. We are not born with mental resilience – it is like a muscle you have to work on and practice constantly. We develop it with time, wisdom, experience and the right tools.”

She added that when people are going through a period of stress, they will send messages to the brain like ‘I can’t cope’ or ‘I feel trapped’. This triggers the body to respond with heightened anxiety, driven by its main goal of keeping the person safe. However, by consciously reframing the mind, one can introduce positive imagery that helps calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.

Mrs Stylianou explained how the body responds in a similar way to every stressful event, triggering the release of stress hormones regardless of the source of the stress.

“The digestive system is affected almost instantly when the body’s “fight-or-flight” response is activated, as stress redirects energy away from digestion to prioritise survival. The body is releasing a lot of hormones to help us respond and find solutions. While this response is meant to protect us, it can disrupt the digestive system, lower immune function, and increase sensitivity to chronic illnesses when sustained over time,” she said.

“The food we eat can help us deliver the right messages to our brain. It is a way to drive ourselves in giving the body positive feelings. A balanced diet rich in nutrients helps in releasing positive feelgood hormones, like serotonin.’

MCTC runs a programme called MyBalance which is committed to enhancing the health, morale, and productivity of crew, ultimately contributing to safer and more efficient operations.Through a holistic approach it targets the mind, body and soul with educational programmes, webinars and seminars that target the mind.

For the body MCTC offers personalised nutrition plans, fitness challenges, and promotion of physical activity. The initiative targets the soul with stress management and community building.

MCTC’s team of in-house dietician-nutritionists offer guidance, assess individual health  status, and sets achievable goals to empower crew members in making lasting, positive changes. Through tailored support and practical, healthy alternatives, it aims to enhance their overall quality of life, both onboard and at home with their families.