AYC Superyacht Recruitment’s Post

Does anyone care about crew #MentalHealth? Yes, this is a click bate hook… ..I want this to reach as many eyeballs as possible. Unfortunately, I have recently heard of yet another crew member who has tried to take their own life.. ..which resonates with me on a deep level as I have also had someone very close to me try to take theirs. We need to remember that it is the CREW who make the biggest SACRIFICES of all in our industry. Whilst we are at home with our loved ones - THEY ARE AT SEA Whilst we are seeing our children grow up - THEY ARE AT SEA Whist we are attending birthday celebrations - THEY ARE AT SEA Whilst we are taking the little things for granted - THEY ARE AT SEA However, these sacrifices are clearly taking a serious toll... …and Crew mental health related issues are on the RISE. According to a Yachting Pages Media Group survey: 72% of crew suffer with some form of mental health issue or know someone who has.   And a research project by the Cornwall College Group suggests that: 51% of crew have experienced some form of depression at sea , and; 13% have experienced suicidal thoughts We collectively need to create more awareness on this subject. We can’t just let it get worse. In the medium to long term we need to take a serious look at: - Rotation / Annual Leave  - Better living accommodation  - Working hours - Better leadership training  - Levels of free crew support  - Updating areas of MLC (Amongst other areas..) However, in the short term, we need to raise AWARENESS. For anyone reading this post and is struggling. TALK to someone. Anyone. If you don’t feel like speaking to people you know, then contact Yacht Crew Help (ISWAN) anonymously. ‘Yacht Crew Help’ has been set up by ISWAN and offers multilingual, direct crew support 24/7 365. Telephone: +44 (0)203 7137273 E-mail: help@yachtcrewhelp.org Whatsapp: +44 (0) 7514500153 Are there any other free resources that crew can call on, if needed? Please share this post, if you think it may help someone in your network. International Seafarers' Welfare & Assistance Network (ISWAN) #mentalhealthawareness #yachting #maritime

This is a very good discussion on Mental Health issues relating to boating crews who find themselves away from their families and friends in an often isolated environment for long periods. It's not dissimilar to the world of aviation and reflects a broader issue affecting humanity generally. We find it easy to nip to the chemist and pop a pill or swing by the doctor's office for a check-up, often for the smallest physical things. Yet we still have this shameful idea that talking to someone about uncertainty in the head and heart is unacceptable. All that does is isolate us from ourselves and those around us because of the fear of not being good enough. Isolation is a killer on many levels, not only in choosing to self-harm. In the UK alone, the number one killer for males below 45 is taking their own life. It's also the leading cause of death for 15-49-year-olds of all sexes. Every 90 minutes, someone succeeds in taking their own life, and for every person who does, there are 25 attempts. 76% of those who succeed are males. These figures are just some at the end of a long line of desperate feelings in which all sorts of destructive behaviour is played out on others as well as the individual. The loss of human potential is appalling, and it snowballs as others gather the social proof that it is an acceptable path to go down. Even without thinking on compassionate and empathetic terms, consider how utterly inefficient that is for the human race. We all need to do something about this and open up to the fact that we all struggle with mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. There is nothing shameful about that, but it is unacceptable to hide away and pretend that it's unimportant because the consequences affect everyone. Resilience is about facing and choosing to do something in response to uncertainty, confusion, or challenge by developing better awareness and intelligence around physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health concepts. It is a responsibility to face the fear, not to harm another life or take one's own in an attempt to run away from it. 'Fear is a reaction; courage is a choice' - Winston Churchill. Courage is so much easier when we stick together and do not isolate. Thanks to Kate at https://lnkd.in/eGvTRGxG, Michael di Luca & and Bree Sheehan for bringing this discussion to my attention :) #resilience #mentalhealth #coaching #therapy #psychologicalwellbeing #psychologicalsafety #crm #crewtraining

Insights - Seafarer wellbeing research by Idwal and SAFETY4SEA respectively Seafarers who benefit from good rest, good food, exercise, socialisation and contact with those at home are likely to be happier, more motivated, and better placed to attend to their duties. These are some of the reasons why NorthStandard advocates consistently for improving seafarer welfare, and is a proud sponsor of the The Mission to Seafarers to Seafarers report; the Seafarers Happiness Index (read the report here 📔 https://ow.ly/lCF650RznSm ). It is heartening to see this sentiment echoed by various international organisations as they invest in pursuits that investigate the seafarer condition. We are hopeful that the healthy amount of attention paid to the cause will play a role in improving seafarer wellbeing at sea. To read our article "Seafarer wellbeing research by Idwal and Safety4Sea respectively" in full, click here 📑 https://ow.ly/2jC850RznSn #wellbeingatsea #seafarerwellbeing #lifeatsea #crewwelfare #SHI #MissiontoSeafarers

Our long-term Welfare of Yacht Crew project uses data and insights from our Yacht Crew Help service to inform our work so we can address key issues facing crew in the superyacht industry. Read more about Yacht Crew Help and our other recent work for yacht crew welfare in this feature by Superyacht Content. #seafarers #yachtcrew #superyachtindustry #wellbeing #maritime

Take a few minutes and review your ship operations and crew wellbeing. There's always an underlying reason for a seafarer to take/her life.

20% of the seafarers feel that they have been bullied Here are some more worrying highlights from the findings of Danica's Seafarer Survey 2023: Seafarer welfare is a crucial factor in crew retention, and unfortunately, our survey reveals that one in 20 seafarers – roughly one on every ship – said they’ve been bullied, while 4% feel they have been discriminated against because of race and 1% report having experienced sexual harassment.   Worryingly, 23% of seafarers report they’ve experienced a shortage of food or drinking water during their recent voyages. In comparison to previous Danica surveys, this response is slowly but steadily increasing (up from 20% in 2020 and 22% in 2021).   The number of seafarers not being relieved on time has fallen to pre-pandemic levels (24%) – but that’s still almost a quarter of crew who don’t get home on time.   Access to mental health support is becoming more widespread, and this is reflected in our survey results, where more than half of respondents confirmed they have access to mental health support (51.69%). Of those who used this facility (20%), 70% said they found the service useful. This was the first time the Danica survey included questions about seafarers' mental well-being.   Seafaring is a rewarding career – one I myself enjoyed – and it’s important to ensure that crew are safe and treated well. Read our survey results here: https://lnkd.in/e4FyxAB2  

With the #DayofTheSeafarer fast approaching on Tuesday the 25th, Elaborate Communications Ltd will be shining a light on the relevant resources and information that can help aid the struggles that seafarers face globally i.e. with mental health, medical support, security and more.   With each of these struggles, which can often feel incredibly isolating, it is important that seafarers are able to access the appropriate support needed to help tackle such situations. Organisations such as the International Seafarers' Welfare & Assistance Network (ISWAN) are incredibly helpful in doing so.   ISWAN provides 24/7, free, confidential, and multilingual helplines every day of the year, offering support and guidance. SeafarerHelp (www.seafarerhelp.org) is accessible to any seafarer or their family members, while Yacht Crew Help (www.yachtcrewhelp.org) specifically supports those working on yachts. The ISWAN helpline team is trained to provide emotional support and assist any seafarer facing worries or challenges.   #Seafarer #Maritime #Safety #Crewing #Shipping #ElaborateComms

There has been a rise in seafarer happiness for the first quarter of 2024, with the overall score improving from 6.36 to 6.94. This positive shift is driven by enhancements in financial security, crew relationships, and training opportunities. However, we remain committed to tackling persistent issues such as work-life balance, substandard accommodations, and discriminatory practices. #MarinerWelfare #SeafarerWellbeing

The Q4 2023 Seafarers Happiness Index has revealed a decline in overall seafarer happiness levels, down to 6.36 out of 10, compared to 7.1 in the Q1 Report 2023. The report brings together seafarer perspectives to highlight the major factors impacting happiness. Key recommendations centre on facilitating better shore leave and increasing connectivity, training, diversity, and mental health support. The response data over the past four quarters shows there has been a consistent downward trend, with seafarer satisfaction and happiness steadily worsening in 2023, highlighting that even more needs to be done to improve their welfare. Read the full Q4 2023 Seafarers Happiness Index report here: https://bit.ly/42lZpNK #SHI #SeafarersHappinessIndex #seafarers #maritime #shipping

Navigating Seafarer Challenges: Insights from ISWAN's 2022-23 Review 🌟 In the ever-changing maritime world, the well-being of our seafarers should remain a top priority. The latest International Seafarers' Welfare & Assistance Network (ISWAN) Annual Review sheds light on their journey through 2022-23. While the rough situation of the pandemic has calmed, seafarers continue to face significant challenges, from financial to mental health issues.🌊🚢 This year's report, touching the lives of 8,602 seafarers across 98 nationalities, shows a crucial rise in support needs. It's more than numbers; it's about real people navigating life at sea, with stories that remind us why their welfare is key to a thriving maritime industry. 🛳️❤️ You can dive into the report here 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/dchhARqu #seafarers #seafarersarekeyworkers #seafarersmatter #strongertogether #maritime