VIKAND, a global leader in maritime healthcare, is urging the shipping industry to confront a mounting mental health crisis among seafarers, following concerning findings from Gard’s 2025 crew claims report which show that suicide now accounts for more deaths at sea than accidental injuries.
From 2019 to 2023, 11% of all seafarer deaths were due to suicide, a figure likely underreported due to stigma and silence. Similarly, Yale University’s 2020 research for the ITF Seafarers' Trust found that 20% of surveyed crew members had experienced suicidal thoughts, highlighting a silent mental health crisis that demands urgent attention.
“Suicide at sea is no longer the elephant in the room,it’s a harsh reality we can no longer ignore,” said Ronald Spithout, Managing Director, OneHealth by VIKAND. “The silence, the stigma, and the systemic underreporting must end and together we need to ensure more structural approach and support for seafarers before more lives are lost.”
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Unique pressures of life at sea, including long isolation, communication challenges, and cultural taboos, make seafarers especially vulnerable. Most suicides occurred among crew members under age 41, with officers disproportionately affected. Compensation exclusions for suicide further compound the trauma for grieving families.
VIKAND shared three anonymous cases, encountered by colleagues before joining the company, that highlight the hidden nature and devastating ripple effects of suicide at sea:
- Two Filipino crew members, both described by peers as outgoing, engaged, and sociable, took their own lives, one by hanging, the other by jumping overboard. Both were grappling silently with family and relationship struggles, including a breakup. Neither had a known mental health history or showed visible warning signs. In each case, psychological support and crew training were implemented , but only after the tragic events.
- In another case, a 28-year-old doctor died by suicide in her cabin following a breakup. A colleague, emotionally devastated by her death, turned to alcohol and was later dismissed from duty, without receiving any follow-up mental health care or emotional support. This underscores the wide-reaching and lasting consequences of suicide at sea, not just for families but for entire crews, including medical professionals.
VIKAND stresses that fragmented, reactive approaches to mental health are no longer sufficient. More effort must go into receiving (even the faintest) early warning signals, which is one of the reasons why the company is leading the shift toward a more proactive, predictive model, one that picks up those early warning signals, and prioritises early intervention.
It outlines three key actions that industry leaders can adopt to tackle this crisis head-on: improved reporting standards, enhanced mental health support through comprehensive wellness programmes and fostering a cultural transformation to reduce the stigma around mental health so seafarers feel able to ask for help without fear of judgement or shame.
As part of its commitment, VIKAND is expanding its mental health support to offer Crew Wellness Pulse Checks, an anonymous and AI supported digital screening tool that helps seafarers reflect on their mental health, along with providing 24/7 helplines for immediate support.
VIKAND also encourages industry stakeholders to consider critical improvements such as:
- Mandatory pre-employment psychological screening (PEME) to help identify vulnerabilities before deployment.
- Targeted training for officers and crew to recognise early signs of distress and how to respond supportively.
- Ensuring clear and stigma-free access to helplines and onboard mental health resources, which could make the difference between life and death.
“This isn’t about checking a box, it’s about proactively trying to save lives,” added Ronald. “Together, we can build a maritime culture where every seafarer feels seen, supported, and safe.”
