CONNECTING THROUGH THE STORM
With today's seafaferers facing a crisis in the Red Sea and a rise in piracy attacks this proactive service is needed more than ever for crew welfare.
We launched Ship Connect during Covid, it's a partnership with shipping companies to offer the first virtual proactive support service for seafarers - and it has proved so popular and beneficial it is now a fixed part of our Wellness programme.
As crews were stuck on ships for many months beyond their contracts while others were unable to board and work as planned, reports of suicide were on the rise and shipping companies were approaching us, greatly concerned about the welfare of their crews.
Today's crisis in the Red Sea and increasing cases of Somali piracy attacks have left crews anxious once again.
Our team makes regular calls to ships to check in with crews, getting to know them and identifying any welfare issues early on. They build relationships with seafarers through confidential group and one-to-one chats and sharing advice on how to deal with common mental health problems.
Thousands of seafarers have already received proactive mental health support on board their ships through the unique Ship Connect programme and calls are being made right now, helping crew through some of the most difficult times of their lives.
"Seafarers can be very distressed - and in some cases suicidal - by the time they call a helpline. Sadly, we have been made aware of cases where some crew haven't reached out, with tragic consequences. With Ship Connect we can address any challenges they're facing before they spiral out of control, and, if they are struggling, they are more likely to reach out to someone they know and trust."
Johan Smith, Sailors’ Society’s head of wellness
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