Mental First Aid for Seafarers

Maintaining mental health in a demanding time and demanding work

A Confidential Balance & Impulse concept

Introduction

Seafarers, the backbone of the maritime industry and global trade, have been reported to be experiencing declining levels of reported happiness since 2023. This is in large part due to the high mental and physical demands of their work, intense workload and prolonged social isolation at sea. Following Corona, these difficulties have become even greater, and many seafarers are still recovering from the difficult period of strict isolation. With the ever changing political climate, seafarers are often faced with a constant threat of danger at sea. Due to the nature of their work, many seafarers spend periods of 1-12 months away at sea, completely immersed in their work and far away from the comfort of their families and support systems.

Goals of Mental First Aid

What Mental First Aid intends to do is to provide structure and balance in the lives of seafarers, so that they can continue to carry out their invaluable work while also having sufficient energy and fulfillment in their private lives.

Foundations of good mental health 

The foundations of good mental health are simple. There must be a balance between energy input and output, time for rest and recovery, and a meaningful and enriching private life filled with energizing hobbies and fulfilling social bonds. This starts with recognizing where improvement is necessary, giving time and space to process difficult emotions, and noticing the signals that let us know that stress is building up before it becomes too overwhelming. Additionally, many of us leave the playfulness of our youth behind while play is actually an integral part of maintaining joy and positivity in life. We need the lightness of play to shake off the heavy stresses of daily life.

Practical and applicable solutions

Mental First Aid is based on practical and applicable solutions tailored to the individual. This provides seafarers with the tools they need to take on their work while still maintaining good mental and physical health.

Support services offered

Individual mental support sessions are provided by our team of psychologists online or by phone. These sessions are available in the following languages: English, Dutch, German, Italian, Ukrainian and Spanish.

Training structure

• The training consists of two days, of which you will train independently, online for two half-days. There will also be two half-days where you will be required to attend training in person.
• An annual follow-up training for one day. This day also concerns a half-day of online training and a half-day of in-person training.

Certificate

Upon successful participation and passing of necessary tests, participants will receive a certificate according to HBO registration CRKBO. If participants do not pass the tests, display skills which are deemed inadequate or engage in harmful behaviour towards people with psychological complaints during the training, the certificate will not be granted.

In collaboration with More Medical 

View the terms and conditions for providing our services here:

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