The Seafarers Suicide Problem
Personal problems and difficult situations lead us to depression and stress. This combination may force some of us to make desperate decisions that are sometimes extreme and irreparable. One of those extreme decisions that a person can make is suicide. Which leaves many questions unanswered and makes us wonder, why?
What is suicide? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is death by an act of violence directed at oneself with the intent to die.
What is mental health? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being in which each individual develops his or her potential, can cope with the stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute something to his or her community. The WHO also states that health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. There is no health without mental health.
Why do we define suicide and mental health?
These are two things that can go hand in hand. A person without good mental health is an individual who will not be able to cope with the different situations that can often arise. Sometimes the decision-making process is not the most correct, and on many occasions an irreparable decision is made, such as suicide. There are some people who think that a person commits suicide because of cowardice, for not wanting or not knowing how to face the situation. In reality, it is necessary to be in the other person's situation to understand, and sometimes we only criticize and do not look for the reasons, or we do not help the other person.
Suicide is preventable. There are strategies for prevention and to reduce the risks, while also increasing the protective factors. The causes for a person to commit the act of suicide can be extensive, depression and substance abuse being among the lead causes that can lead a person to make a drastic decision.
Now, let's talk about seafarers. What can lead a seafarer to take an irreparable decision such as suicide? Considering that they have jobs, generate a salary, are providers that support families, and they even get to travel and get to know other countries. But we see all this from the other side of the fence. As my mother used to say, "only the spoon knows what is in the pot". Understanding that only the one who lives through the situation is the one who truly knows what is really happening, no one else. You must be in the person's position to be able to know in order to give an opinion and to understand. Many times, we end up speaking and giving our opinions without knowing all the facts.
The fact of the matter is seafarers work their contracts, sometimes for months at a time, spending extensive periods at sea away from their families, long hours, dangerous conditions, dealing with different types of people, co-workers, supervisors, etc., all of which can undoubtedly affect the mental health and well-being of seafarers. There can sometimes be a stigma surrounding seafarers' mental health but ensuring that seafarers receive the right support and guidance is more important than ever.
According to the ITF Seafarers Trust’s Final Report on Seafarers' Mental Health from 2019, dangerous levels of anxiety and suicide risk were identified; 20% of seafarers had suicidal ideation, 25% depression, and 17% anxiety. The work of a seafarer is carried out among a group of people isolated from society for a certain period and is characterized by being routine and multicultural. According to the International Maritime Health Association, it is one of the most physically demanding and high-risk professions.[1]
A new report on seafarers' mental health has also found that suicide remains a poorly understood problem in the maritime industry, and suicide is likely to be significantly underreported. The report finds that the discussion of mental health at sea is still perceived as a 'taboo' subject among seafarers, which can ultimately lead to limiting understanding of the issue. The report finds that navigation is an extremely challenging industry, and the pandemic has worsened the strain on mental health. Several structural problems in the industry were found to put pressure on seafarers' mental well-being, including long working hours, isolation, fatigue, and financial instability.
Tragically, suicide remains a major problem in the maritime industry. According to a study in the journal International Maritime Health, an estimated 5.9% of deaths at sea are suicide related. However, when 'suspicious' deaths that were possibly suicides were included, the percentage increased to 18.3%. While some of the larger shipping companies are believed to offer more comprehensive in-house mental health support services than smaller companies, not all seafarers feel comfortable accessing these support services, even when they are readily available, caused by a combination of cultural stigma and confidentiality concerns.[2]
The importance of a person's mental health cannot be understated. Those with poor mental health find it very difficult to function properly in society. It is for this reason that support and positivity for people with mental health problems is vitally important. Oprah Winfrey once said, "You become what you believe in", if we talk to them positively, with appropriate and valuable words, we would be contributing to positively to their mental health, but if we talk to them with derogatory, denigrating words, we may end up contributing, perhaps without realizing it, to the person making dangerous decisions. So, let us think about ourselves, our children, and our family, let us speak and treat our neighbor as we would like to be treated. Let's avoid wrong and irreparable decisions.
[1] https://marineandnavalengineering.com/articulos/salud-mental-gente-de-mar-actividad-fisica/
[2] https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/maritime-suicides-are-unacceptably-high-and-employers-must-act