Taking good care of the mental health of the crew should always be monitored frequently.
How do we know if a person is suffering from mental health problem?
According to AMSA’s Maritime Safety Awareness Bulletin Issue 12 – September 2020, Here are the signs that may indicate that a person is having a mental health problem:
• appears to withdraw, isolates themselves, or seems quieter than usual
• appears distressed
• agitated or irritable
• difficulty managing work or workload
• more argumentative, aggressive, or gets into conflicts
• confused, unusually forgetful, or has trouble concentrating
• behaving in a way that is out of character.
When you see those signs, here are the suggestions that you may do to assist the person experiencing it:
• spend time with the person
• offer your assistance and a listening ear, but do not intrude on that person’s privacy. Be mindful that there may sometimes be deeper problems that underlie the initial problem they mention
• help them with any practical arrangements they require
• do not take their emotions personally, as this is probably a part of their reaction
• do not downplay or dismiss their problems. Do not tell them they are ‘lucky the situation isn’t worse’—they probably don’t feel lucky
• help them to re-establish a normal schedule as quickly as possible. If possible, include them in the activities of others
• encourage them to be active and involved
• encourage them to look at what they can manage, rather than just thinking about what they want to avoid.
Always be alert to your crew’s mental behavior. Maintain a fair and supportive working environment all the time.
Source: https://www.amsa.gov.au/news-community/newsletters/maritime-safety-awareness-bulletin-issue-12-managing-mental-health-sea