It was, it is, and it, most probably will be…
Crew mental health is generally at risk due to specifics of living onboard, sharing small space 24/7 and having zero privacy.
Add a stressful moment with a teammate during the day, imagine the need to meet the same mate at a meal and multiply it by the perspective of going with your emotions into the same cabin for a night…
Imagine?…
The Yachtie lifestyle put one’s mental health on probation every single day, that of oneself and of others.
That is why mental health awareness is and should be in the focus of every owner, yacht manager and captain.
Not many though even realise such an issue exists.
“They earn a lot, they get the tips on top, they get the food and clothing provided, they do not have to pay their rent, they see the world for free… what mental health are you talking about?” … This is often the perception of yachtie’s life by an outsider, by this is not the case in the crew mess.
If the yachting lifestyle is “So Great” then why is the crew retention rate a drama on so many boats?
The equation of crew longevity onboard is not similar to a 2-component epoxy, for sure, it has many important variables, each of which deserves a separate long read.
However, stats do not lie in yet assigning the major role to crew dynamics as the driver of crew longevity.
It is natural for a human being to leave the environment he/she is not feeling good in their own skin. So they leave.
Why so?
Healthy crew dynamics evolves as a symbiosis of each crew’s mental health and is a volatile compound if we talk chemistry. Its balance is fragile.
Mental health is one’s emotional, psychological and social well-being. Being low on battery in terms of mental health affects how one thinks, feels, and acts. It also determines how one handles stress, relates to others, and makes healthy choices.
Combined with the limited space the crew lives and works in, the mental health issues of one single crew member can easily intoxicate the whole crew and create a threat to crew longevity. Due to the 24/7 exposure such negative dynamics can evolve erratically fast.
What is the remedy then?
For the employer: have an open ear and an open mind for crew mental health issues; invest time and attention into building a trusting relationship with your employees so they share and open themselves to you; support and intervene earlier than later to protect the overall team mental health level; motivate individuals to work on their mental health to contribute to the team’s one.
People are the heart of the Yacht. Focus on people!
For the crew member: read our next Friday post
