Potentially traumatic experiences of seafarers

Background: The aim of the present study is to assess the extent to which seafarers had been affected by severe mental stress situations and what possible psychological effects they may have.

Methods: During the voyages of 22 German ships, a psychologically trained investigator interviewed 323 seafarers about severe mental stress or potentially traumatic events on board (participation rate 88.5%). Furthermore, a psychologist conducted semi-standardized interviews in 12 shipping companies and in 8 stations of the German Seafarers' Mission on seafarers' traumatic experiences.

Results: Of the seafarers surveyed on board, 116 (35.9%) experienced ship wrecks/severe accidents and 55 (17.0%) piracy on board. Experiences with stowaways were indicated by 126 seafarers (39.0%). Repeatedly having to unintentionally think about these events, being reminded of them by certain noises, smells, etc., or often dreaming of them were after-effects in 97 (83.6%) of the affected seafarers after ship wrecks/serious personal accidents on board and in 42 crew members (76.4%) after threats of piracy. Experiences of threat from stowaways had particularly affected non-European seafarers or ratings.According to the interviews with the shipping companies, a total of 14 deaths occurred in the last 3 years in the 12 interviewed shipping companies (due to heart attacks (3), severe cancer (3), very serious accidents (3), suicides (2) and 3 with unknown causes of death). In relation to the container ships of the investigated shipping companies, these frequencies correspond to a mortality rate of 78.4 per 100,000 seafarer years.According to the interviews in 8 Seafarers' Missions, these organizations are in charge of emergency counselling in the form of crisis intervention when a seafarer has experienced serious psychological stress.

Discussion: A serious injury or even the death of a member is a serious psychological stress experience for the other crew members in the closed social system on board. These events are particularly distressing for Filipino seafarers with their strong sociocentric bonds and religious values. Priestly support is often required in order to stabilize the Filipino crew members.

Conclusion: As a preventive measure, psychoeducation for seafarers should be established for coping with extreme mental stress situations.