When we think of the risk involved with being at sea, we think of storms, engine failure, running aground, theft, or pirates. But there is a risk — silent, hidden, lethal; mental illness

The Merchant Navy teaches responsibility, discipline, and courage. However, it exposes our minds to tests that no manual will prepare you for.

This blog is not meant to evoke sympathy. It is meant for awareness. It is meant for acceptance of that risk. Most importantly, it is for action.

The Isolation No One Talks About

You are on a ship for four to six months

Surrounded by people, but still feeling alone.

No familiar face. No comforting hug. No home-cooked food. No normal routine.

You miss festivals. You miss your child’s first day at school. You miss your father’s check-up at the doctor. Your mother’s birthday. Your sister’s wedding.

And gradually, a strange sadness accumulates. You smile less. You speak less. You sleep, but are not rested.

When Internet Makes It Worse

Onboard internet keeps us connected. But sometimes, it makes it worse.

You see your friends having weekend dinners. Relatives enjoying functions. Colleagues going to weddings or parties. And you are marooned in mid-sea, in boiler suit, counting days.

You respond with a smiling emoji, but your heart is heavy. This is where mental fatigue starts.

Workload, Pressure, and Fatigue

Port stays are stressful. Long working hours. No or very little rest. PSC. Vetting. Drills. Cargo operations. Paperwork.

You have to be perfect every day. There is no room for mistakes. Nobody inquires about whether you are okay.

You are not allowed to say you are tired or sick mentally. Because on board, this will be perceived as weakness.

However, even the most powerful minds have limitations.

The Need to Talk — But to Whom

There are days when you want to talk to someone. Not about navigation or checklists. But about how you feel inside.

But who to speak to

The senior officer will not appreciate. The messroom rumour mill will distort your words. You do not wish to upset your family back home.

So you remain silent. You bottle it all. And gradually, your smile fades.

Signs You Cannot Ignore

Being irritable for no reason

Loss of interest in food or work

Thinking excessively day and night

Inability to sleep well

Feeling unwanted or rejected

Suicidal thoughts, even fleetingly

If you experience any of this, do not ignore it. One’s mental health is as important as one’s physical health. We may not be able to see it, but that doesn’t make it less serious.

What You Can Do Onboard

Speak with someone you trust. It may be a friend or senior

Write down your thoughts in a diary

Listen to soothing music or quietly sit for ten minutes

Get proper rest and don’t skip meals

Restrict excessive scrolling on social media

Take a daily short deck walk

Alert the Master if your mental health is impacting your work or safety

No shame in asking for assistance. A true seafarer understands when to be tough and when to talk.

And If You Are a Senior Officer Reading This

Take a gander.

That timid cadet, that bitter junior officer, or that downcast messman — perhaps they are not careless or slack. Perhaps they are quietly hurting.

Occasionally, all it takes is a question.

Are you okay

And occasionally, that question can be the difference between life and death.

Closing Thoughts

We maintain engines, navigation, cargo, and charts. But we also must maintain the mind that operates it all.

Let us not wait for someone to break down entirely. Let us begin to build a culture in which seafarers can be at liberty to speak out.

The sea pushes us every day. But if we do stand by one another, we will always remain afloat.