02/02/2026
🛟Tackling a silent mental health crisis: just one su***de among crew members is one too many.
Between 2019 and 2023, 11% of all seafarer deaths were due to su***de and the real number is likely higher. Today, su***de has overtaken accidental injuries as the leading cause of death at sea.
Isolation is part of life onboard, but the biggest triggers often come from conflicts, harassment, and poor leadership. As Martin Hedman stresses, the solution cannot rest solely on individuals in crisis. We need a top-down approach: companies must take genuine responsibility, implement clear policies, and create a culture of care. Voluntary goodwill isn’t enough. Regulation and proactive leadership are key to breaking stigma and saving lives.
Isolation is part of what being a seafarer is. However, there are a lot of things that can be easily changed.
Read the latest article featured in the The Mission to Seafarers Magazine:https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/wp-content/uploads/theSea-issue-4-2025.pdf
