Happiness at Sea

03/03/2021

This concept of crew-human beings to “live”(not for a few nights while traveling) is inhumane. As a mental health professional that looks at the person in the environment and how the environment affects behavior, I not only question the outcome of this idea but question through the lens of how crew are seen and valued in the workplace.

Note: the survey has closed. The comments, some by self-identified crew members speaks volumes!

The start-up luxury residential community at sea Storylines, which is set to debut in 2023 with the cruise ship M/V Narrative has recently created a survey targeting the crew members. The goal is to evaluate the mental health, productivity, safety of the shipboard employees with a focus on the crew....

03/03/2021

This idea of crew-humans to live (not for a few nights when traveling) in pods for their contract length is inhumane. As a mental health professional in maritime that looks at the person in the environment and how the environment affects behavior, this idea shows to me how crew are seen valued in the workplace.

The start-up luxury residential community at sea Storylines, which is set to debut in 2023 with the cruise ship M/V Narrative has recently created a survey targeting the crew members. The goal is to evaluate the mental health, productivity, safety of the shipboard employees with a focus on the crew....

20/01/2021

Website Launch www.pamkern.com

23/12/2020

Happiness at Sea in the media!

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/blog/caring-crew-mental-health-land-and-sea

In a 2019 study, 25% of seafarers had scores suggesting depression, 17% of seafarers were defined as seafarers with anxiety, and 20% of seafarers surveyed had suicidal ideation over the two weeks before taking the survey.

02/12/2020

Let’s continue to talk about crew mental health - care as a verb, not just a noun.

December 18 Live Webinar | 9:00 AM EST
Caring for Crew: Mental Health On Land And At Sea

https://www.seatradecruiseevents.com/en/talks.html

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22/11/2020

Well done Qatar Airways! I hope other airlines can extend this benefit to seafarers.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en/lounges/mariner-lounge.html

Mariner Lounge

11/09/2020

I am a former seafarer, wife of a seafarer and help seafarers in mental health.

I want to hear your story 🔊. I call it Airwaves. How has this pandemic affected your mental health as a seafarer? Please leave a voice message in Messenger here and I will share your story so we can show that human side of the seafarer. 💓

Share this around the seas with others.

I respect privacy. I will remove identifying information for anonymity.🔒

10/09/2020

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

During the pandemic, 7 crew died by su***de in the cruise sector, 5 were confirmed su***des and two were unconfirmed.

Emotions don’t operate in silos. We must connect with others to help break the cycle of disturbing thoughts, even thoughts of su***de.

What can you do? Reach out to be life for someone-a connection. Small but lifesaving.

https://www.iasp.info/wspd/light/light_a_candle_english.pdf

09/09/2020

My heart breaks for this Filipino seafarer. This should not have be a coping skill to survive at sea during COVID:

“Missing someone is not allowed,” he said. “For you to focus on work, you can’t think about them. Your body is heavier when you miss someone.”

Working 18 months, everyday without a day off because of the effects of the pandemic causing major constraints on crew changes.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/business/coronavirus-sailors-cargo-ships.html

When borders closed, seafarers on ships around the world suddenly had no way home. Half a year later, there’s no solution in sight.

13/08/2020

Cruise ships are being sold or scrapped and for crew, a piece of them is a forever part of its history.

As a former seafarer, two significant ships are changing hands.

1998- I was the Guest Relations Manager on ms Veendam part of the outer box search for survivors of Swiss Air #111 air crash for 2 days off of Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia. I would never have thought working on a cruise ship I would have expected what I saw in the water. There were also over 200 retired Pan Am pilots, personnel and their families on board that cruise for a reunion.

1997- ms Rotterdam. I was the industry and company first at sea concierge for suite guests. Due to construction delays, the last of the European cruise season was the first cruise. Penthouse suites were still being built during embarkation.

(photo credits HAL and Swiss Air)

25/06/2020

We are still out there!

12/06/2020

To all my friends of The Philippines

25/05/2020

Self-Care Plans- an evidence based, user friendly intervention strategy for seafarers. This helps with coping and resilience to manage the very challenging circumstances they have been experiencing.

25/05/2020

Self-Care Plans- an evidence based, user friendly intervention strategy for seafarers. This helps with coping and resilience to manage the very challenging circumstances they have been experiencing.

21/05/2020

It is Mental Health Awareness week in the UK. The theme this year is kindness and kindness is Happiness at Sea strategy.

Kindness research shows that kindness activities increases happiness. https://lnkd.in/dDKbNxh

And kindness also has physical and mental benefits. https://lnkd.in/dVd6b5F

Acts of kindness -- to loved ones, to strangers, to ourselves -- make the world a warmer place. And seeking ways to be kind can make you happier, too.

10/05/2020

To the Seafarer Mom
(real seafarer narratives)

The seafarer mom that leaves her kids behind with her husband or family for 6-12 months to make a better life for her kids and community.

The single seafarer mom that leaves her child to be
cared for by a non-family member so they can have a better life.

The seafarer mom that also financially supports her
sister, paying for her college.

The seafarer that has lost a child.

The seafarer that could not have children.

The seafarer soon-to-be mom.

The hopeful mom seafarer.

The seafarer that does not have kids but has a mom
living or that has passed on.

You are honored this Mother’s Day!

04/05/2020

This says it all. It's a valid barometer of where seafarers are at with happiness.🎚

Care as a verb, not just a noun.

Care translates to well-being that equals happiness. And happiness has positive effects for the individual and the bottom line.🎯

Small nudges with little cost = big impact with large returns.

Now it's a call from insight to action. ✅

Who's onboard?

https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/news/seafarers-proud-of-their-work-but-feel-unsupported-during-covid-19-pandemic-latest-seafarers-happiness-report-shows

The Mission to Seafarers reveals insight into how seafarers are affected by Covid-19 and the need for the industry to provide support The latest Seafarers Happiness Index report, published today by The Mission to Seafarers, has revealed real insight into the lives of seafarers during the global Covi...

28/04/2020

🚢Crews merged from different lines to return home to South Africa and Asia. Holland America welcomes Seabourn crew and invite all to express gratitude.

Research shows gratitude decreases stress, feel a stronger social connection and increases happiness. 😁

Care as a verb, not just a noun. 💡

Small action = big impact.💥

18/04/2020

Past pandemics have shown that people have blamed and shamed certain ethnic groups as carriers of the virus. These are society’s reactions to fear and searching for someone to blame.

The responses of loved ones and your community when you return home can range from excitement to fear. Specific reactions depend on so many factors such as culture, values and beliefs. Family and friends might feel fear that you might carry the virus home with you and infect others thus bringing shame to your family or community. Other cultures might welcome you home and not have such reactions.

Here are tips specifically for seafarers and overseas workers to cope with the transition home.

15/04/2020

Physically there, mentally absent = Presenteeism

⚓️ Actual seafarer comments from various sectors:

“I feel like a robot.”

“I’m on autopilot until I go home.”

“The ship is like a prison and I am waiting for my release date.”

“The windowless corridors are closing in on me.”

❓How many days, weeks or months do you think takes a seafarer to experience presenteeism?

03/04/2020

Discussing mental wellness in uncharted waters with people on ships and at home from all over the world. A special mention to those on the call from The Philippines that voluntarily joined in at 2am and adding some virtual humor.😉

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused disruptions in everyday life for seafarers and these disruptions take away control and cause uncertainty. Such uncertainties can range from no shore leave for weeks and/or months, delayed vacation or deployment disruptions, quarantine and being ethnically stigmatized based on how you look or what country your passport is from. Moreover, how to pay the bills if work stops?🌏

Then add the existing challenge of separation from family and loved ones, these can have negative effects on mental well-being that can reduce your ability to cope and lower resilience. 🌊

It's important to put interventions in place to protect mental health as the uncertainty continues.💫

31/03/2020

31/03/2020

🚢During this pandemic, I have been working with crew on cruise ships with no guests on board.

There is a bell curve of time where crew are just waiting on an empty ship. After the peak of excitement when the novelty wears off, mental health trouble can start in times of uncertainty. A seafarer can experience anxiety and stress which can lower resilience and coping.

How can stress-vulnerability caused by uncertainty be lowered and increase resilience to cope in uncharted waters?

A small strategy with big impact to help is gratitude. 🙏🏼 In times like this, thinking of the science of gratitude and happiness might be unlikely things to focus on. Gratitude studies have shown to reduce anxiety and increase happiness because it forces your brain to scan the last 24 hours.

🗒 📱Write down 3 things that you are grateful for each day and refer back to it. You can share it with others or keep it for yourself.

This is how several ships expressed their gratitude. 👏

22/03/2020

See how ships that are anchored off Grand Bahama are keeping the crew spirits up.

20/03/2020

Every year, the United Nations recognizes March 20th as International Day of Happiness. Despite these very challenging times, find a small space of happiness today.

Day of Happiness

19/03/2020

Let’s see this support on every empty ship ❤️

08/03/2020

International Women's Day 2020
An equal world is an enabled world.

Happiness at Sea celebrate women’s achievements while calling for greater equality and challenging gender stereotypes and bias.

28/02/2020

To seafarers in all sectors coping with Coronavirus and its effects. ❤️

Saw this heart bubble in ice. ❤️

16/02/2020

Crew RESILIENCE! Check out these videos.

I have experienced Norovirus outbreaks working on cruise ships, managing guests in quarantine, the strain and fatigue it puts on crew etc. but NOT nearly to the extent the crew of Diamond Princess has experienced.

Sending strength and support to the crew, staff and officers on the Diamond Princess.

https://twitter.com/maejuliene18/status/1228284672506916864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1228284672506916864&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fcrew-center.com%2Fdiamond-princess-galley-crew-keep-their-spirits-dance

“https://t.co/ogtPWAADfC”

15/02/2020

In the 4th Quarter, Seafarer Happiness is ⬇️

Overall Seafarer Happiness has fallen almost across the board this quarter – down to 6.13 out of 10 from 6.59.

A worrisome trend.

There are ways to increase seafarer happiness with small prevention and intervention programs resulting in BIG impact and data analytics to prove efficacy. 📈



https://www.happyatsea.org/wp-content/uploads/SHI_Q4_2019.pdf