IMO Highlights Seafarers’ Well-being and Mental Health on Today’s International Day of the Seafarer

Happy International Day of the Seafarer!

Each year on June 25 the International Maritime Organization marks the Day of the Seafarer as a way to recognize the global seafaring community, as well as seafarers’ contributions to the overall global economy.

Each year, the IMO designates a theme which it highlights through social media campaigns.

The 2018 Day of the Seafarer theme is “seafarers’ well-being”, which the IMO says is a topic that has gained strong momentum throughout the industry in recent years.

“By addressing the issue of seafarers’ well-being and particularly mental health, this campaign can inform specific strategies to tackle stress and other issues affecting seafarers’ mental conditions – and make the tools available more widely known,” the IMO said.

The join in on the social media campaign, use hashtag’s #SupportSeafarersWellbeing, #GoodDayatSea and of course #DayoftheSeafarer.

More on how you can mark IMO’s 2018 Day of the Seafarer here. 

Below is the IMO’s 2018 Day of the Seafarer message from IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim:

Here’s some more of what’s being shared around social media:

Clearly seafaring can be challenging! And despite all the #GoodDayAtSea We’re running a short survey to learn more about the welfare and challenges faced by seafarers of today. Take up the survey: https://t.co/s0E1gmd9Jr https://t.co/KeWxqG38Co

— IMO (@IMOHQ) June 25, 2018

Today we’ve launched a webpage to help seafarers get mental health support should they need it. https://t.co/pruAr0eHiP #DayOfTheSeafarer

— UK Shipping (@ukshipping) June 25, 2018

Steve Cotton, ITF General Secretary, calls on the industry to end the exploitation, wage theft and abandonment that seafarers endure every day. Show your solidarity with our seafarers and tweet on this #DayOfTheSeafarer to #SupportSeafarersWellbeing. pic.twitter.com/fxiphORUKD

— International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) (@ITFglobalunion) June 25, 2018

Ground-breaking seafarer welfare training programme launched by @Seafarers_Trust and @WMUHQ Designed to equip maritime professionals with key skills and knowledge to #SupportSeafarersWellbeing Find out more: https://t.co/GYmz5T0Cui pic.twitter.com/zHvoJNSOGW

— IMO (@IMOHQ) June 25, 2018

Our crewmembers spend their lives at sea, away from friends and family. So it’s important they always carry a little piece of home with them.

To all seafarers – thank you for your dedication.#SupportSeafarersWellbeing #GoodDayAtSea pic.twitter.com/MxGj9vH5Rt

— Maersk (@Maersk) June 25, 2018

Today is Day of the Seafarer, recognising their important role and helping raise awareness of seafarer’s wellbeing. As Australia’s third largest port and a global gateway for trade, Newcastle welcomes over 40,000 seafarers every year. #SupportSeafarersWellbeing #GoodDayatSea pic.twitter.com/SSO5LxgxNt

— Port Waratah (@PortWaratah) June 24, 2018

Our government is embarking on a process to encourage all maritime stakeholders to come up with defined strategies that will reduce stress and other issues affecting seafarers’ mental conditions.#DayOfTheSeafarer #SupportSeafarersWellbeing #GoodDayAtSea #SASeafarers @DoTransport pic.twitter.com/PDQlxtkyU0

— SAMSA (@SAMSAMARITIME) June 23, 2018

Excited to share @Videotel_Marine and @KVH brand new trailer for “Seafarers’ Mental Health and Wellbeing” – a mental health resource for seafarers that promotes ways to help deal with challenges and strains onboard #SupportSeafarersWellbeing https://t.co/mHKCFfW5UU pic.twitter.com/5Zkm66EIQc

— IMO (@IMOHQ) June 25, 2018

Today we celebrate the importance of the 1.5 million seafarers’ work worldwide. Check out how the @ilo #SupportSeafarersWellbeing by ensuring decent work conditions for them. https://t.co/4b1UpkgxWv @IMOHQ pic.twitter.com/EiuVs6I5NO

— ILO (@ilo) June 25, 2018