The World Health Organization estimates that 264 million people are affected by depression globally and states that “The burden of mental disorders continues to grow with significant impacts on health and major social, human rights and economic consequences in all countries of the world.”1. Seafarers, who spend many months away from home working in challenging conditions, may be more vulnerable to mental health issues than the wider population. Recent studies2,3 show that higher numbers of seafarers appear to suffer from depression than other working groups and that determinants of mental health disorders among seafarers include work environmental factors, job satisfaction, and self-rated health. Well documented connectivity issues at sea and working far from home can mean that access to support and confidential health care can be a major challenge to seafarers. Even when support is accessible, stigma surrounding mental health and worries about job security make it more difficult for seafarers to ask for help when they need it.¹
The latest survey, undertaken in association with the Shipowners’ Club and Wallem Group, analyses the experiences of seafarers across the global maritime industry between April and June 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, seafarer happiness has dropped from 6.30 in Q1 2020 to 6.18 in Q2 2020. The survey unveils the harsh reality of crews not being able to get home, worries about the safety of family and friends, and frustration at extended contracts and even fears about entire careers, not just jobs.²
The challenges caused by COVID pandemic have being reported are reaching intolerable levels. Due to the disregarding contracts the growth of sexism, racism, bullying and drunkenness onboard have beeing reported. Seafarers are at a tipping point and it is essential that faster progress is made to protect seafarers and stop the industry from falling into a deeper crisis.
Svjetska zdravstvena organizacija procjenjuje kako je 264 milijuna ljudi globalno pogođeno depresijom i navodi kako “Teret mentalnih poremećaja i dalje raste sa značajnim utjecajima na zdravlje, socijalna, ljudska prava i ekonomske posljedice u svim zemljama svijeta.” Pomorci koji mnogo mjeseci provode izvan kuće radeći u zahtjevnim uvjetima, možda su osjetljiviji na mentalna zdravstvena pitanja od šire populacije. Nedavne studije pokazuju kako pomorci više pate od depresije u odnosu na ostale radne skupine. Čak i kad je podrška dostupna, stigma oko mentalnog zdravlja i briga oko sigurnosti posla otežavaju pomorcima traženje pomoći kad im zatreba. ¹
Najnovije istraživanje, provedeno u suradnji s Klubom brodara i Wallem Groupom, analizira iskustva pomoraca u globalnoj pomorskoj industriji između travnja i lipnja 2020. godine, na vrhuncu pandemije COVID-19. Sve u svemu, sreća pomoraca pala je sa Q1- 6,30 na Q2- 6,18 u istom razdoblju. Istraživanje je otkrilo surovu stvarnost posade, od toga kako ne mogu doći kući kako je planirano, njihovu zabrinutost za sigurnost obitelji i prijatelja do toga koliko su frustrirani zbog produljenih ugovora, pa čak je ukazalo na prisutne strahove oko cjelokupne karijere, a ne samo posla.²
Izazovi uzrokovani pandemijom COVID- 19 dosežu nepodnošljivu razinu. Zbog nepoštivanja ugovora, prijavljen je rast seksizma, rasizma, maltretiranja i pijanstva na brodu. Pomorci su stoga na prekretnici i ključno je što brže napredovanje kako bi se zaštitili i spriječio daljnji pad pomorske industrije.