WELLNESS FOR FAMILIES AND SHORE STAFF

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WAS families and shore staff

Seafarers, families and shore staff all face different challenges.

They depend on one another, not only in a professional sense, but also on a human level - giving purpose and meaning to each other’s lives. They can either motivate, encourage and inspire each other or discourage each other, causing anxiety and tension. We work alongside them, helping to support and equip them to get through the challenges of long contracts at sea together.

We are all part of the wider maritime family.

The seafarer navigating the vast oceans around the globe is connected to his family back home and to the shore staff working for their maritime company. The strength of this family lies in the unique tapestry woven by our different roles and identities - a cherished son or daughter, a steadfast parent, a devoted partner, or an indispensable team player.

Sailors’ Society has been caring for members of our maritime family for more than 200 years. We have shared thousands of extraordinary moments with seafarers, their families and those working on shore. We’ve laughed with you; we’ve cried with you and we’ve been around when you just wanted to talk. Together we are stronger.

BY EXPANDING OUR WELLNESS AT SEA PROGRAMME TO FAMILIES AND SHORE STAFF, WE AIM TO:

1. Create a shared language, through which difficult conversations like mental health can be confronted. A shared language creates shared meaning.

2. Create understanding and empathy for the unique challenges each person faces.

3. Build solidarity and unity through shared experiences.

Wellness at Sea Awareness Campaign

Following our highly successful pilot campaign in 2020, we expanded our Wellness at Sea Awareness Campaign to reach out to families and shore staff. Since then, more than 60 organisations have utilised the campaign materials, sharing mental health and wellbeing information, advice and access to support.

Find out more here.

Wellness at Home

With the onset of the pandemic and associated restrictions, we started to offer families remote live workshops on mental health and family resiliency (with a focus on emotional and social wellness).

In 2022, 2,386 people attended our mental health awareness sessions and joined our family resiliency workshops. We also provided wellness training to more than 14,000 seafarers as part of our Sea Ready Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars for crews.

It's good to talk, to share, to connect.

It's often helpful to talk to other people who have lots in common with you - that's why we set up our Peer-to-Peer Support Groups for families and shore staff.

FIND OUT MORE +