Focus: Well-Being

Well-Being

Depression, anxiety and isolation increased among mariners during the pandemic.

By Pamela Glass, Washington Correspondent

Mariners who have worked nonstop through the pandemic report feeling more depressed, isolated, fearful of becoming sick from Covid-19, worried about their families and fi nances, and more anxious and stressed than prior to the pandemic, a recent study concluded.

Cody Foster

The pandemic has not been kind to the mental health of U.S. mariners, including those that work in the inland, coastal and harbor tug sectors.

Mariners who have worked nonstop through the pandemic report feeling more depressed, isolated, fearful of becoming sick from Covid-19, worried about their families and nances, and more anxious and stressed than prior to the onset of the pandemic.

This has led to poor sleep quality, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and for some, suicidal thoughts. All this on top of an already stressful job environment onboard vessels, and what they perceive as a weak system of support and understanding for their mental health concerns by employers and a lack of access to mental health services.

These are some of the key ndings of a recent study on mariner mental health led by Dr. Marissa Baker at the University of Washington School of Public Health in Seattle, in partnership with the U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System Covid-19 Working Group and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

STRESS, ANXIETY

Data was collected in an online survey done between Jan. 25, 2021, through July 31, 2021, from 1,559 respondents in all maritime sectors, the majority of whom actively sailed through the pandemic. Respondents were mostly white men between the ages of 25-64, but there were also many female mariners in the group. Of the total responses, 381 came from mariners working on inland and coastal vessels, harbor tugs and Jones Act vessels.

According to the survey, 20% of all respondents had high scores for major depressive disorder, 22% for anxiety, 9% for suicidal ideation, 38% for elevated stress, and 18% for PTSD. Half of respondents had high scores for at least one of the ve mental health outcomes measured, the study said, while almost half reported that their mental health got worse during the pandemic, and 26% said their sleep quality worsened.

Those having depressive tendencies also have elevated feelings of isolation and anxiety. Many of these conditions are made worse when mariners are denied shore leave, restricted from getting on or off a vessel, are worried about family who were sick with Covid, or have no or limited access to the internet.

These feelings are prevalent among respondents working in the inland industry. “About half of respondents in this sector reported a restricted ability to get on and off the vessel, and half reported being worried about being away from family during the pandemic,” Baker said in an interview. “Even for those workers in this sector who may go home at the end of every day, the stress of living and working during the pandemic was apparent.”

Women, younger workers and those with certain credentials (cadet, unlicensed engine of cer — unlimited, licensed Deck Of cer — unlimited tonnage on oceans, and licensed engineer of cer. — unlimited horsepower) and in certain industries in the Great Lakes, offshore energy, Military Sealift Command and NOAA, had higher rates of adverse mental health problems. Baker noted that higher rates among women and younger mariners is explained by the fact that they tend to be newer to the pressures of the profession and come from a generation that more freely expresses their feelings.

“This emphasizes to me that employers should be ensuring that they are

enacting programs and communications targeted to younger mariners and to female mariners,” she said. “Both of these demographics are needed to continue to grow and sustain the industry, so ensuring that everyone feels supported, both during a public health emergency and beyond, is an important consideration.”

Overall, mariners said they enjoy their jobs, have enough time to rest or recharge on a vessel, and have someone to talk to if they feel sad or stressed.

But despite identifying their mental health challenges, few mariners said they seek help, citing a stigma of admitting these feelings or concerns about their Coast Guard credentials.

COMPANIES SHOULD DO MORE

Many mariners have grown impatient with ongoing pandemic protocols that they must follow to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on their vessels. Some thought the measures were a burden and were not producing true safety benefits, while others expressed frustration and disappointment in the way their companies were handling safety measures.

“I work on tugs and there is no protocol for boarding other than a checklist for symptoms,” one respondent wrote in the survey. “This is like playing Russian roulette. But at least I am working.”

Another wrote: “Very disappointed in my company’s unwillingness to make an effort to test our crews before we crew change. Also disappointed how much unnecessary personnel movement and exposure we experience as crews that further raise the risk of Covid-19 transmission.”

The study recommends that maritime companies increase efforts to track the mental health of workers, increase and improve communications and training on mental healthcare (talk therapy and medicine), make services more accessible, increase social support for mariners aboard vessels, continue to emphasize the importance of mental health care for maintaining

Overall, mariners said they enjoy their jobs, have enough time to rest or recharge on a vessel, and have someone to talk to if they feel sad or stressed.

Coast Guard licenses, and improve experiences for women mariners.

The study’s findings could have broad implications for the maritime industry, especially since “we know that injury rates are higher among those with mental health concerns,” Baker told members of the American Waterways Operators (AWO) during a virtual presentation of her study.

She told WorkBoat that mariners want assurances from employers that their work routine will return to normal, and she encouraged companies to offer such assurances.

“Mariners were concerned that even with the immediate threat of the pandemic had passed, they would still be asked to stay on the vessels and not take any shore leave, or go on longer afloat tours, or have changes to their hours and work days,” Baker said. “Given all the stresses the pandemic has brought, changes in work protocols is another source of stress, so it makes sense that some mariners would want to eliminate the protocols or be frustrated with them as they make it harder to do work aboard the vessel.”

Maritime companies should also talk directly to mariners to determine exactly what they need.

“Often the employees have very actionable and reasonable ideas that can make a big difference and may not cost a lot of money,” she said. “Our survey showed that in the inland sector, more than half of mariners reported they didn’t receive any information from the company they work for related to mental health. This is another place where employers can intervene, by making sure they are pushing out … guidance tailored to the mariner. Mariners indicated they wanted information on warning signs to look for in coworkers, how to access mental health help, and strategies to cope with stress.

“The survey should be the start of ongoing surveillance efforts,” Baker added. “The only way to know if mental health is improving or if programs and communication are working is to survey industry more frequently and regularly.”