David Appleton: maritime men's health matters

With the campaigning month of 'Movember' fast approaching, the Professional and Technical Forum on 29 October offered a timely moment to focus on men's health in the maritime industry.

Shipping remains a predominantly male profession, yet subjects such as prostate and testicular cancer, and the particular mental health challenges faced by men, are still too rarely discussed. Across the world, a man is believed to attempt suicide every minute – with some research suggesting that seafarers may be particularly susceptible due the pressures of working away from home and family.

The Forum began with an overview of the Movember movement, explaining how a light-hearted idea of growing a moustache for charity in November two decades ago has grown into a global campaign supporting men's physical and mental wellbeing.

Many of the Movember-funded projects are built around activity and shared experience, recognising that men often find it easier to open up while doing something alongside others rather than in direct conversation.

We asked our members to consider what might work in the maritime context to encourage openness and raise awareness of men's health issues. Their reflections were thoughtful and grounded in real-life experience.

Mental health support

Several members spoke about how valuable it is simply to have the chance to talk. One recalled joining a new ship shortly after a relationship breakup and finding the isolation difficult to manage. Access to counselling through an employer's medical insurance later in his career had proved extremely beneficial.

Others stressed the importance of being ready to listen when a colleague raises concerns about their mental health.  One member noted that when he finally opened up to a friend, it led to a mutual exchange that helped them both.

Structured men's groups were viewed positively, providing a setting where people can speak freely among others with shared experiences. A few participants had received training on how to check in with colleagues, though there was a common view that many employers express commitment to mental health without putting adequate measures into practice. Some training programmes were also felt to be ill-suited to the hierarchical environment onboard.

Nautilus will continue to encourage employers to strengthen their approach and will look into possibilities such as online discussion groups for seafarers.

Addictive behaviour

The Forum also touched on the rise of online gambling and cryptocurrency trading at sea. These habits can escalate quickly and have a serious effect on mental health. There was a discussion on how companies could take a more proactive role, for example by including it in their internet use policies, but a balance would need to be struck to ensure that access was not unnecessarily restricted.

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, or over 40 for those of black or African heritage, and often develops without symptoms in the early stages. Members shared personal experiences that highlighted the importance of early testing and diagnosis, as timely treatment can make a crucial difference.

Those unable to access free tests through national health services can obtain private screening, and seafarers are encouraged to arrange checks when ashore. After it was suggested that screening could be incorporated into the ENG1 medical process, we agreed that Nautilus would investigate ways in which awareness and access could be improved for seafarers. 

Paternity leave

Members shared their experiences with paternity leave policies and noted large discrepancies between the conditions on offer in different companies. Some pointed out that that in many companies, the policies are informal, with employers offering flexibility where possible but with no guarantees.

We also heard that many UK companies only paid the statutory paternity pay rate of £187 per week, which could mean that taking paternity leave would be financially prohibitive for some seafarers.

Keeping the conversation going

The Forum showed how ready maritime professionals are to talk about health when given the chance. From mental wellbeing and addiction to medical awareness and academic pressures, members were generous in sharing their experiences.

Discussions like these are essential to improving the culture of health and support across our industry. I'd like to encourage members to share further experiences or suggestions via protech@nautilusint.org, and to look out for details of the next Professional and Technical Forum in the new year.