ISWAN (International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network) has launched a confidential helpline for crew in partnership with the marine insurers North P&I Club, as part of its “Mind Matters” campaign.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing at sea. The new confidential helpline, Mind Call, is available to crew on board vessels covered by North P&I Club and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. ISWAN says, “the Mind Call team speaks a number of languages, making the experience as comfortable as possible for seafarers”.
Seafarers can telephone the helpline on +441912353917 and can also contact it by email and live chat through www.mindcall.org
The Mind Matters campaign provides North P&I Club members and their crew with resources and materials to support seafarers’ emotional wellbeing at sea, and to provide guidance on where to access additional help if needed. The campaign was developed in response to concerns about the increase in mental health related incidents on board vessels covered by the insurers, and their impact on crew member and their colleagues, leading to poor job performance and a potentially dangerous working environment.
Roger Harris, executive director of ISWAN, said the Mind Call service is “a great initiative that will provide support to seafarers who may be having difficulties with their mental wellbeing while at sea and also ashore”.
Mind Matters campaign resources are available for seafarers at: www.mymindmatters.club
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