Mental Health Support Solutions highlights lack of industry-wide standards for psychological support at sea
Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS), member of OneCare Group, has highlighted the absence of industry-wide standards for psychological support in shipping following the completion of a specialist online maritime psychology masterclass designed to equip mental health professionals with the knowledge needed to support seafarers.
While international regulations and guidance have significantly improved physical health, safety and welfare standards across the maritime sector, MHSS says there remains no universally recognised framework outlining how psychological support should be delivered to seafarers or what specialist maritime knowledge mental health practitioners should possess.
To help address this gap, MHSS brought together psychologists and mental health professionals for a dedicated masterclass exploring the realities of life at sea and the unique challenges facing those working onboard vessels. The programme covered shipboard fundamentals, multicultural crew dynamics, fatigue, trauma, chemical exposure, suicide ideation, crisis management and the wider social pressures experienced by seafarers.
The training was organised by MHSS Clinical Psychologist Luca Hütter (pictured), together with MHSS industry professionals including Charles Watkins, Director of Clinical Operations, and Stella Kiss, Head of Clinical Operations. Dr Jens Tülsner, CEO of Marine Medical Solutions, part of OneCare Group, and other healthcare providers also contributed, with the programme focused on giving psychologists the specialist maritime knowledge needed to deliver effective, relevant support.
Ms Hütter said: “The maritime industry has made significant progress in recognising the importance of mental wellbeing, but there is still no consistent industry-wide standard for what good psychological support looks like for seafarers. Supporting people at sea requires more than clinical expertise alone.
Mental health professionals need to understand the operational realities of vessels, onboard hierarchies, multicultural environments and the unique pressures that come with living and working at sea for extended periods. Without that understanding, there is a risk that support services fail to meet seafarers’ needs or are not trusted by those who need them most.”
The masterclass highlighted the importance of making mental health support inclusive and accessible for all seafarers, including LGBTQ+ communities and other vulnerable groups, recognising that cultural differences, identity, fear of discrimination and social isolation can affect wellbeing and willingness to seek help.
This is especially significant at sea, where vessels are closed communities and seafarers live and work together for months with limited external support.
The masterclass also reinforced the importance of avoiding assumptions when supporting seafarers. Participants examined how attitudes towards mental health, identity and help-seeking behaviour can vary significantly across cultures, religions and legal jurisdictions, requiring psychologists to adopt flexible, individualised approaches.MHSS believes greater collaboration between shipping companies, crewing teams, healthcare providers, welfare organisations and mental health professionals will be essential in developing more consistent standards and pathways to care across the industry.Stella Kiss, Head of Clinical Operations at MHSS, added: “As an industry, we have clear expectations around physical safety and wellbeing. We should be working towards the same level of clarity and consistency when it comes to psychological support. Every seafarer deserves access to mental health care that reflects the realities of life at sea, regardless of their background, nationality or identity.”
The masterclass takes place every year and forms part of MHSS's wider commitment to educating industry psychologists to be equipped with the knowledge required to support seafarers at sea.