Seafarers often face extended separations from their families, but Our Family and the Sea offers a meaningful way to bridge the distance. This heartwarming picture book helps children understand why their parents spend long periods at sea and creates opportunities for connection, even while apart.
Story Synopsis
The book follows Angelo and Mutya, two siblings who are affected by their father’s absence as he works aboard an ocean-going cargo ship. Angelo is upset that his father will miss his birthday, while Mutya dreams of visiting her father at work, guided by a blue whale. With the support of their mother, grandparents, and friends, the children navigate their emotions and learn to appreciate their father’s role as a seafarer.
Purpose and Target Audience
Produced by The Swedish Club and Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS), Our Family and the Sea is designed for children under 10. The book aims to help children understand the emotional challenges faced by families when seafarers are away for extended periods. It is available online, allowing seafarers and their families to read it together regardless of location, bridging the emotional gap between them.
Collaboration Behind the Book
Lorraine Hager, Loss Prevention & Marketing Advisor at The Swedish Club, emphasized the importance of family in supporting seafarer mental health: “A strong connection to family is one of the most significant contributors to a seafarer’s mental and emotional wellbeing, especially given the challenges of prolonged separation.”
Impact on Seafarer Wellbeing
Our Family and the Sea is part of The Swedish Club’s larger crew wellbeing initiative, Check Your Pulse. This project seeks to address the human factors affecting seafarer wellbeing by enhancing family support. MHSS specialists, including child psychologists, were instrumental in the development of the book, ensuring it resonates with both children and parents.
The Role of Mental Health Support Solutions
Güven Kale, Chief Clinical Officer at MHSS, highlighted the book’s significance, describing it as “a bridge that connects families, helping parents and kids support one another despite the physical distance.” Charles Watkins, CEO and Clinical Psychologist at MHSS, added that the book is a “meaningful way for seafarers to share their world with their children, fostering understanding and connection even when apart.”
Strengthening Family Bonds
Through this initiative, The Swedish Club aims to create lasting family connections, strengthen bonds, and offer reassurance to children missing their parents at sea. The book serves as an important step in supporting the mental and emotional health of both seafarers and their families by fostering empathy and understanding about life at sea.
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Source: The Swedish Club
