New: Seafarer mental health study
Schuler, Mike. Yale study links high levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among seafarers. gCaptain.com. November 19, 2019.
A new study by Yale University has identified worrying levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among seafarers.
Commissioned by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust charity, the study is said to be the most authoritative and comprehensive survey of the state of seafarers’ mental health to date. It drew on a sample of more than 1,500 seafarers of different ranks, nationalities, vessel types, and flag states.
What the survey revealed was that a quarter of respondents had suffered depression, 17 percent had experienced anxiety and 20 percent had contemplated suicide or self-harm in just the previous two weeks from taking the study.
It also revealed for the first time a link between depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts and a greater likelihood of injury and illness on board. Factors cited included lack of adequate training, an uncaring work environment, low job satisfaction, and existing medical conditions.
The full gCaptian.com article can be found here.
The Seafarer Mental Health Study 2019, can be found here.