Sailing Towards Well-being: Investigating Seafarers’ Mental Health Challenges, Coping Strategies, and Best Practices to Shape an Enhancement Plan

Abstract

The focus of this study is to explore the mental health challenges faced by seafarers, identify their coping strategies, and assess the best practices implemented by shipowners and shipping companies to support their mental well-being. Utilizing a descriptive research design with a quantitative approach, the research involved active seafarers from various shipping companies, selected through random sampling. A total of 46 respondents participated, providing data through a researcher-made survey questionnaire. The analysis employed various statistical tools, including descriptive statistics such mean, standard deviation, and rank and inferential statistics were t-test, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation, to evaluate the mental health challenges, coping strategies, and best practices based on demographic variables such as department, length of sea service, civil status, and income. The findings revealed that the most prevalent mental health challenges among seafarers included "physical risks and dangerous injuries," "work-life balance," and "accessibility and effectiveness of mental health support," with moderate agreement on issues like "depression and anxiety" and "isolation and loneliness." Seafarers reported coping strategies such as staying positive, communicating with family, and taking time to unwind, which were consistent across demographic categories. Additionally, the study found that shipowners and shipping companies implemented best practices, including safe working practices, regular mental health consultations, and offering shore leaves. No significant differences was found in mental health challenges when seafarers are categorized by department, length of service, civil status, and income. Importantly, the research identified a significant relationship between the mental health challenges faced by seafarers and the coping strategies they employed, with a correlation at the 0.01 level of significance. Based on these findings, the study concluded that there is a critical relationship between the mental health challenges faced by seafarers and the coping strategies they employ. An enhancement plan was proposed to improve the mental health and well-being of seafarers, emphasizing the importance of targeted support from shipowners and shipping companies to address the unique stressors of the seafaring profession.