Page 15 - 2021 - Q2 - Minerva in Focus

“ Well-being at Sea

It is fully acceptable - and often expected - that we should look
after our physical health. Many ships have gyms or exercise
Psychological well-being is about being well
psychologically, which means we can function equipment, and shipping companies encourage healthy eating
and lifestyle choices to keep seafarers healthy. One of the first
things we do if we are in physical pain is to tell someone close
well, feel good about ourselves and about life, to us about it. We might even contact a doctor. However, this is
feel a sense of life satisfaction, a sense of often not the case when our mood is low and our discomfort is
psychological rather than physical.
purpose, and a sense that our lives are on the As a seafarer, being away from family and friends may mean
right track. that you’re less likely to talk about your low spirits or feelings
of unhappiness than someone ashore who sees their loved ones
” seafarers may face other constraints to their well-being such as
every day. Just as communication with home can be limited,
limited shore leave, monotonous routines, long working hours,
shifts, and few opportunities for exercise or socialising.
It is vital we pay attention to our mental health because it affects
how we think, feel and act.
Psychological well-being is not only about the times when things In a study of more than 3000 people in the US, only 20% were
are going well. It is also about how we cope when things are more found to have high psychological well-being or be ‘flourishing.’
difficult. It is about both feeling good and functioning well. If The good news is that a large and growing body of evidence about
you feel good, you function more effectively, and if you function what makes people happy and what enhances their well-being
more effectively, you feel better about yourself. But it isn’t easy suggests we can control many of these things. We now know that
to function well if you aren’t feeling good. How you feel on a day- several critical factors characterise people with high well-be-
to-day basis can change and is affected by all kinds of things in ing; people who ‘flourish’ in their lives. These include positive
our lives and environment. Our sense of psychological well-being emotions, engagement, positive relationships, and a sense of
is not fixed; it includes how happy we feel, yet it is more than meaning, purpose, and accomplishment. A substantial body of
just our sense of happiness or the mood we are in at any specific evidence suggests that intentionally engaging in activities to
moment. Some people have defined it as the point of balance strengthen our psychological well-being will have a positive ef-
between the day-to-day challenges we face and the resources fect. If we can turn them into habits, they will have a long-lasting
and skills we have to meet those challenges. impact on our well-being and physical health.

How can we enhance our psychological well-being?
Boost your wellbeing

What the science says

• Notice your accomplishments • What is important to you?
• Try something new • Purpose is why we do what we do

Psychological
Wellbeing
• Get into the Flow • Connect with people on board
• Spend time immersed in getting • Nurture relationships at home
better at what you love doing

• Do more of what makes you happy
• Make time for activities that you enjoy

Taken from Steps to Positive Mental Health: Good Mental Health Guide for Seafarers, part of ISWAN’s Seafarers’ Health Information Programme (SHIP)