Review article on the mental health of seafarers

Abstract

‘Sea the future’ is coined correctly by the name blue economy. But is the future beckons wellbeing of the ‘key worker’? While Covid 19 pandemic halted most of the economic juggernauts in lockdown; it could not put a spanner into the propellers of ships which kept trading for 90% of the global trade 24x7 around the COVID’s variants year, seafarers mental and physical health went through tough times. The articles reviewed had never seen through this unknown tunnel of this decade. Wisdom of hindsight is common but resilience to bounce back may be grasped out of foresight with learnings of gap analysis. Awareness of factors influencing health, as a building block for seafarers’ training from pre-sea level is to be envisioned in the mode of compulsory courseware. Physical fitness and mental toughness modules must be enshrined in courseware with pedagogy and soft skill development through case studies. Research work should pave the way for innovative tools to monitor seafarer health 24X7. The well-being of seafarers may then be addressed potentially.