Mental health

You are not alone. ISWAN SeafarerHelp and Sailors' Society both run 24/7 multilingual crisis lines specifically for seafarers. The calls are free, confidential, and do not reach your owner or flag state.

Step-by-step

1. Call ISWAN SeafarerHelp (+44 800 012 1004) or WhatsApp (+44 7909 470732) — multilingual, 24/7.
2. If in suicidal crisis, call Samaritans (116 123 in UK, accessible internationally).
3. Find your country's crisis line at findahelpline.com — covers 130+ countries.
4. Onboard: talk to your Designated Person Ashore (DPA) — confidential per the ISM Code.

Evidence to save

• Personal diary / notes on symptoms with dates
• Any DPA confidential communication thread (printed if possible)
• Counselling-call notes (ISWAN / Sailors' Society sessions are confidential by default)

What NOT to sign

• Any document declaring you "unfit" without an independent medical assessment
• Any waiver of future workers'-compensation rights

Legal basis

MLC 2006 Regulation 4.3 (health and safety protection). IMO 2022 guidelines on fatigue and fitness-for-duty.

Primary sources

• ISWAN SeafarerHelp — 24/7 free multilingual
• Sailors' Society Wellness at Sea
• MLC 2006 Reg 4.3 — Health and safety protection
• IMO MSC.1/Circ.1598 — Fatigue Guidelines (2019)

Organisations that can help

• ISWAN SeafarerHelp
  Global · 24/7
  📞 +44 800 012 1004
  💬 WhatsApp +44 7909 470732
• Samaritans (UK & Ireland)
  Europe · 24/7
  📞 116 123
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US)
  Americas · 24/7
  📞 988
• ISWAN Mental Health & Wellbeing helpline
  Global · 24/7
  📞 +44 20 3713 7273
• Sailors' Society — UK head office
  Europe · Crisis Response Network 24/7
  📞 +44 23 8051 5950
  💬 WhatsApp +44 7903 805950
• Stella Maris UK (Apostleship of the Sea)
  Europe · 24/7 emergency
  📞 +44 20 7901 1931
  💬 WhatsApp +44 7505 906261
• Lifeline Australia
  Asia-Pacific · 24/7
  📞 13 11 14
• Kiran — National Mental Health Helpline (India)
  Asia-Pacific · 24/7
  📞 1800-599-0019
• Hopeline Philippines
  Asia-Pacific · 24/7
  📞 (02) 8804-4673
• ISWAN Yacht Crew Helpline
  Global · 24/7
  📞 +44 20 7323 2737
• Sailors' Society — Singapore office
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9-18 SGT
  📞 +65 6634 1990
• Stella Maris USA (Apostleship of the Sea of the United States)
  Americas · Mon-Fri 9-17 CT, port chaplains 24/7
  📞 +1 504 581 1693
• Stella Maris Philippines
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Sat 9-17 PHT
  📞 +63 2 8554 0500
• Mental Helse — Norway
  Europe · 24/7
  📞 116 123
• Telefonseelsorge — Germany
  Europe · 24/7
  📞 0800 111 0 111
• İntihar Önleme Hattı (Turkey)
  Europe · 24/7
  📞 182
• Sailors' Society
  Global · 24/7 crisis line
  📞 +44 23 8051 5950
• Sailors' Society Philippines
  South-East Asia · Mon–Sat
  📞 +63 2 8527 8500
• The Mission to Seafarers
  Global · CrewHelp 24/7
  📞 +44 20 7248 5202
  💬 WhatsApp +44 7779 018175
• Sailors' Society Ghana
  Africa · Mon–Sat
  📞 +233 30 320 2225
• Sailors' Society India
  South Asia · Mon–Sat
  📞 +91 22 2261 3361
• Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea)
  Global · 24/7 emergency line
  📞 +44 207 901 1931
  💬 WhatsApp +44 7732 469783
• Sailors' Society Kenya
  Africa · Mon–Sat
  📞 +254 41 2316 200
• Mental Health Support at Sea (ICS / IBF)
  Global · Refer to ISWAN 24/7
• NAMMA — North American Maritime Ministry Association
  Americas · Office hours
  📞 +1 414 446 0800
• Deutsche Seemannsmission
  Europe · Office hours
  📞 +49 421 163 87-0
• Apostleship of the Sea — USA (Stella Maris USA)
  Americas · Office hours
  📞 +1 202 541 3035
• Samaritans (UK suicide helpline — takes international calls)
  Global · 24/7
  📞 116 123 (UK) / +44 330 094 5717
• Stella Maris Australia (Apostleship of the Sea)
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +61 7 3864 2261
• Find A Helpline
  Global · Online
• Mariners' Club Hong Kong (Stella Maris + MtS)
  Asia-Pacific · 24/7 front desk
  📞 +852 2368 8261

Disclaimer. General information only — not medical, psychological, or legal advice. If you are in immediate crisis, call ISWAN +44 800 012 1004 (free, 24/7, multilingual) or your nearest national emergency line.