“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” as the saying goes, and yet, we still get shocked by the lemons that life throws at us! Sometimes we may be in a mood to make lemonade while other times we just feel exhausted and drained…

Throughout the discussions that I have had with the seafarers, colleagues and friends, I have discovered some important stress factors that are common to those who sail onboard. As a mental health professional, I hope to be able to share some insight and in turn, help you identify potential stressors.

1. Interpersonal Issues

Some might think that this concern is simple or negligible, but it can affect someone drastically. Some instances of interpersonal issues can be be unfair or biased treatment, unhelpful ways of sharing feedback especially when done in a humiliating tone, bullying or harassment by team members (including senior personnel), fights and disagreement with colleagues, just to name a few.

We often overlook the damage this might be causing or how it affects the psyche of a person. Many of us have been on the receiving end of such issues and we all have different ways of dealing with it. Likewise, every person responds differently to the conflicts of interpersonal nature, some shrug it off and some stress out over it.

2. Fear of Missing Out

Making the choice to become a seafarer means extended periods away from our loved ones. Staying away from the family is not a simple decision, Sailing doesn’t stop one from wanting to play an active part in the various milestones in the lives of our loved ones. There will always be this strong desire to attend their children’s birthday, celebrate their achievements, big family events, festivals, and be there for emergency situations. This is a very common stress factor for most people. We are, after all, social creatures who have been conditioned to take care of our family. Missing out on the important affairs like these creates fear. When this fear accumulates and spirals out of control, it becomes a crippling stress factor.

3. Day-to-Day Anxiety

Being on the job as a seafarer, running a vessel comes with a lot of responsibilities. There can be too many things to account for. For example, with the changing rules and regulations, the luxury of time is not given, and these rules need to be comprehended and implemented quickly. Sometimes, this cannot be achieved, and it comes at a cost at your own health (physical and psychological).

The need to adapt swiftly and smoothly can create a pressure on seafarers on every level, from cadets to senior officers. These are all common stress factors that we can find in our lives that are non-clinical. It is important that we are equipped to identify these stress factors that cause us to become sullen but often, we don’t know it. Once we know what is going on with us, we can then find ways to cope with these stress points.


Now that you have identified stress points, lets consider how to deal with them:

  • Seek support from mental health professionals
    Some days, we just need to be heard by someone and a mental health professional can provide an unbiased viewpoint and support. Not addressing these issues can lead to feelings of unworthiness, low self-esteem, burn-out, exhaustion, incompetence, and more.
  • Find a comforting or safe space
    There are also times where we just need to vent and release negative feelings and energy. Finding a space like this allows us time to be with ourselves and ponder about ourselves to our heart’s content.
  • Connect with a trusted or loved one
    They say the presence of our loved or trusted ones have a healing effect. Whether it is through physical or digital means staying connected with them is something I personally recommend. Whether you are on leave or onboard, try to maintain a connection with loved ones on an individual basis to strengthen the bonds.
  • Have open communication to resolve conflicts
    Observe how people react to your patterns of communication and relationship management approaches to avoid interpersonal conflicts. Whenever a conflict happens, try to resolve it at its root before it goes out of hand. In this situation, senior officers play a crucial role in developing a culture of togetherness.

This article is merely meant to inform and educate on the common stress factors that are experienced onboard. If you can relate to the above or are in a situation where you feel that you are unable to cope with, please seek out our in-house counsellor, Harshali Kotekar, for better advice.