Page 97 - Mariners Cricket Club (Singapore) - Souvenir Magazine 2020

At the individual level, one could adopt relaxation techniques like
progressive muscle relaxation, breathing exercises, yoga, meditation,
watching a sunrise or sunset, making a daily routine to think of a
good memory to cope with anxiety and stress. One has to be mindful

of short term gratifications which could lead to addictions.
Maritime Labour Convention 2006 implemented regulations regarding psychological
health of seafarers due to a rising number of incidents caused by stressors from shipboard
environments. Statistical data shows a drastic increase in suicides amongst Seafarers. The

findings suggest an extremely poor mental health condition of this population which is
typically fatal. There is an urgent need to raise awareness about Seafarer’s psychological
condition.

Hence, at the industrial level, a mandatory subject or module pertaining to basic
psychoeducation and positive leadership behaviour could be introduced in the licensing/
certifying curriculum of all Seafarers.

Ultimately, the goal should not just be to manage but to prevent. The Seafaring industry could
investigate positive psychological interventions to develop what is known as Psychological
Capital (Psycap). Psycap is a high order construct including Hope, Effi cacy, Resilience and
Optimism (HERO). Unlike personality traits, Psycap is a characteristic which is malleable
and can be easily developed in an individual with proper interventions. Studies in other
organizational setups have proven that developing the Psycap contributes to the wellbeing
and performance of the employees. The time is ripe for this to be tested to ascertain its
effectiveness on the seafaring fraternity.

Puretalk conducted few wellbeing programs on board ocean-going merchant ships recently.
Tailor-made short interactions with the top ranking, middle management and ratings
revealed, as already proven in the seafaring studies, irrational thinking to be prevalent as
a result of separation from family. Concise sessions of psychoeducation helped the staff
on board to view the same situation in a different light. Having witnessed the immediate

positive results, it is my firm belief that this kind of psychoeducation of seafarers should be
implemented across the board. As the title implies, it is imperative that we preserve this salt.

Anitha Kotakonda
Counselling Psychologist
thepuretalk@gmail.com

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