The October 2025 welcome message from the AMWS Chairman,
Mr David Parmeter
Mr David Parmeter
Hello everyone, and welcome to the latest edition of the AMWS electronic newsletter.
One of the major areas of concern for everyone involved with seafarer welfare is the mental health of seafarers. There have been a number of studies and reports that identify the seriousness of these issues. Seafarers face significant mental health challenges due to demanding working conditions, which include isolation, fatigue, long hours, and being away from family. These factors can lead to anxiety, depression, burnout, and other mental health issues.
Addressing these problems is not overly difficult if there is a genuine appetite for change. Actions that should be taken include, but are not limited to:
I trust you will enjoy this edition of the newsletter.
One of the major areas of concern for everyone involved with seafarer welfare is the mental health of seafarers. There have been a number of studies and reports that identify the seriousness of these issues. Seafarers face significant mental health challenges due to demanding working conditions, which include isolation, fatigue, long hours, and being away from family. These factors can lead to anxiety, depression, burnout, and other mental health issues.
Addressing these problems is not overly difficult if there is a genuine appetite for change. Actions that should be taken include, but are not limited to:
- Improve onboard life by providing better connectivity (like internet access) and opportunities for social and recreational activities to combat feelings of isolation.
- Better management of workload and fatigue to prevent burnout.
- Training to enable senior personnel to recognize mental health issues affecting crewmembers.
- Supportive mental health services to enable access to mental health support.
- And critically, ensuring timely crew changes to prevent seafarers from being stranded at sea.
I trust you will enjoy this edition of the newsletter.
