Mentally Healthy Ships

A guide for shipping companies and ship operators to develop and implement mental health policies.

Mentally Healthy Ships provides shipping companies and ship operators with information to help devise and implement mental health policies and practices to promote and protect seafarers’ mental health. Written by Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Pennie Blackburn, this resource offers invaluable guidance on why it is vital that safety planning on board includes due consideration of mental health, as well as information on how to implement it. Employers have a critical role to play in executing their duty of care, through mitigating known risks where possible, and ensuring that systems, procedures and structures are in place to create a mentally healthy environment on board.

This much needed guidance complements ISWAN’s other work on seafarers’ mental health having worked closely with shipping companies over the last few years to provide Maritime Mental Health Awareness Training [link] and assistance with mental health support through its 24 hour services.

Through generous sponsorship from Steamship Mutual, ISWAN has been able to make this resource free to download. We hope to reach as many ship operators, management companies and crewing departments as possible, and believe the guide will be helpful across the industry.

Please get in touch if you would benefit from assistance on how to make best use of Mentally Healthy Ships within your company or for any further information.