Mental health crisis — onboard or in port

Suicidal thoughts, severe depression, panic attacks, or substance crisis. You are not alone — confidential 24/7 help is available.

Immediate action (do this first)

1. Call ISWAN SeafarerHelp: +44 800 012 1004 (free, 24/7, multilingual, confidential).
2. Or contact Sailors' Society Wellness at Sea — confidential text + chat support.
3. Tell someone onboard you trust — peer, chaplain, the Master, the Chief Officer, or the DPA. None of these calls go in your file.
4. Ask the Master to request a TMAS consultation if a clinical assessment is needed.
5. If at port: ask the agent to arrange shore-side mental-health support via the P&I or the local welfare centre.

Evidence to save

• (For the seafarer side, evidence is secondary — focus on the call.)
• If conditions onboard are contributing (workload, harassment, isolation), record dates + names so the underlying issue can be addressed later.

Escalation chain

1. ISWAN SeafarerHelp (24/7, free, multilingual)
2. Sailors' Society Wellness at Sea programme — Confidential text + chat support.
3. Mission to Seafarers / AOS chaplain at next port
4. Master + onboard medical officer — TMAS consultation for clinical assessment.
5. ITF inspector at current port — Can refer to local welfare + repatriation if needed.
6. P&I club via the agent — For shore-side specialist care + repatriation.

Do NOT

• Don't isolate yourself. Tell someone — anyone — within the next hour.
• Don't use alcohol or unprescribed drugs to manage the symptoms.
• Don't accept 'just push through to sign-off' as advice from anyone, including the Master.

Last verified 4 months ago