- Onboard Internet Transforms How Seafarers Seek Help.
- General Enquiries Drop as Complex Mental Health Issues Rise.
- Workplace Stress, Worry, and Low Mood Dominate Mental Health Concerns.
For more than two decades, ISWAN’s SeafarerHelp has been a lifeline for seafarers around the world, offering a free, confidential, and multilingual helpline. It started as a go-to resource for information and assistance in foreign ports or on ships that predate the internet, helping with everything from finding seafarer centres to tackling serious issues like abandonment and harassment, reports ISWAN.
A Shift in How Seafarers Seek Help
With the advent of high-speed internet on board, the way seafarers ask for help has changed dramatically. In the first half of 2025, 38% of inquiries came through live chat and 31% via WhatsApp, moving away from the old-school phone calls or SMS. However, this improved connectivity also means seafarers have more sources of information at their fingertips. As a result, general inquiries plummeted from over 50% in 2023–24 to just 15% in 2025, as ISWAN honed in on deeper data analysis and improved issue tracking.
Rising Complex Mental Health Issues
While general questions have decreased, the number of mental health-related contacts has skyrocketed, making up 15.5% of issues in 2025, up from 7% in 2024 and 5% in 2023. ISWAN’s new classification of issues reveals that workplace stress (32%), anxiety (27%), and low mood (23%) are the most common concerns. Many seafarers point to tough work environments, feelings of isolation, harsh leadership, or conflicts with colleagues as major stressors. Others are dealing with anxiety stemming from family or financial troubles back home.
Addressing Serious Mental Health Challenges
Worryingly, 9% of seafarers seeking mental health support have reported experiencing suicidal thoughts. SeafarerHelp takes a different approach by maintaining long-term communication until individuals feel stable, which is crucial given the unique challenges of life at sea and the limited access to mental health care.
Growing Awareness, Reduced Stigma
The rise in mental health contacts doesn’t necessarily mean that conditions are getting worse. In fact, it shows that there’s a growing awareness and a decrease in stigma surrounding mental health issues at sea. Seafarers are now more inclined to share their feelings, and ISWAN’s officers have received better training to spot hidden distress that might be lurking behind everyday conversations.
Evolving Needs in a Changing Maritime World
With two decades of experience under its belt, ISWAN has found that seafaring is still a tough gig, filled with stress from high-risk tasks and the loneliness that comes from being away from family. As the shipping industry adapts to smaller crews, diverse teams, less time on land, and the impact of digital changes, the evolving role of SeafarerHelp highlights the ongoing necessity for strong mental health awareness and proactive support for seafarers and their families.
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Source: ISWAN
