Coping tools for seafarers by seafarers
Even though seafarers face immense obstacles at work and at home, there are those who thrive in their careers in the merchant navy. We wanted to know how these men and women get it right. What strategies do they employ to cope with the stresses they encounter? How do they manage to find fulfilment in their jobs despite spending long periods away from their loved ones in incredibly demanding conditions?
Our
approach
We sent a psychometric questionnaire that measures wellbeing — to around 100 seafarers on LinkedIn. The questionnaire was shared with and completed by over 500 participants. We then selected 13 individuals with the highest wellbeing scores for in-depth interviews — 4 women and 9 men from The Philippines, England, Scotland, South Africa, and India. They shared their mental health and industry experiences.
What we did with the data
We carefully analysed the data using evidence-based research methods and identified themes for our presentation topics. This means that these presentations share valuable information gathered from people with real-life sea experience. In other words, coping tools for seafarers by seafarers.
What is evidence-based research?
Evidence-based research is the use of prior research in a systematic and transparent way to inform a new study and to place its results in the context with what is already known. It’s rigorous, scientific and trustworthy
About Dr Lauren Brown
Dr Brown is an educational psychologist by background. She also has a keen interest in workplace wellbeing. After meeting several seafarers over the years, and realising the extraordinary lives they lead, she felt compelled to create a platform where seafarers could voice their experiences of the field. In 2021, Dr Brown started her PHD in Psychology investigating the experiences of men and women and reportedly high levels of wellbeing, generating unique findings that have formed the contents of the webinars available through Seafarer Wellbeing Project.
Dr Brown is a digital nomad and works with people online to support them in their mental health, primarily conducting psychological assessments. She spends her time traveling between South Africa, the UK, Canada and Australia, spending time with the people she loves.
