Mental-health crisis — urgent

If you are in immediate suicidal crisis, you are not alone, and free help is available right now from a trained, multilingual counsellor. This topic is the urgent-action page; for general mental-health support see the broader Mental Health topic. The numbers below are 24/7 and confidential. Your owner, master, and flag state are not notified unless you ask for that escalation.

Step-by-step

1. Right now: call ISWAN SeafarerHelp +44 800 012 1004 (free, 24/7, multilingual) or WhatsApp +44 7909 470732. They will not contact your employer.
2. If you cannot call: text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (UK, free, 24/7, anonymous). Or use findahelpline.com to find your country's crisis text line.
3. On board: tell one person you can trust (master, chief mate, chief engineer, or DPA — Designated Person Ashore is confidential under ISM Code). DPA contact is on the SMS poster in the messroom.
4. Move yourself to a low-risk space: messroom, bridge wing, with another person. Do not be alone in your cabin during acute crisis. Hand any potentially-dangerous items to a trusted person.
5. Request emergency medical evacuation if you believe you are in imminent danger. The master MUST make the request to MRCC under SOLAS V/4.1. This is not a career-ending event — the IMO 2022 guidelines on fitness for duty explicitly recognise mental health.
6. After the immediate crisis: the operator's P&I cover normally pays for crisis counselling and repatriation if needed under MLC Reg. 4.3. Insist on it. ITF, Sailors' Society, and Mission to Seafarers all have post-crisis follow-up.
7. Returning to sea after a crisis: medical fitness re-certification is required. Most flag states accept psychiatric and GP letters; some require flag-state Medical Officer review. This is a normal process — many seafarers return successfully.

Evidence to save

• Time + location of the crisis event
• Who you spoke to (DPA / master / ISWAN / Samaritans / national line)
• Any onboard incident log or near-miss filing (for the post-event review)

What NOT to sign

• Any document declaring you "unfit for duty" without an independent medical review
• Voluntary sign-off paperwork while in active crisis — wait until stable

Legal basis

MLC 2006 Reg. 4.3 (health and safety protection). SOLAS V/4.1 (search and rescue obligation). IMO 2022 Guidelines on Fatigue (incorporates fitness-for-duty mental-health considerations). ISM Code (DPA confidentiality). National crisis frameworks: UK Mental Health Act 1983 + Mental Capacity Act; Norway helsepersonelloven; Philippines RA 11036 (Mental Health Act).

Primary sources

• ISWAN SeafarerHelp 24/7
• Samaritans 116 123 (UK; international callbacks)
• ISM Code — DPA confidentiality (IMO)
• MLC 2006 Reg 4.3

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. Crisis information only. If you or someone onboard is in immediate danger, call the master + the nearest national emergency line FIRST, then ISWAN +44 800 012 1004.