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This World Mental Health Day, the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) has announced its plans to launch a dedicated helpline with the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), providing round-the-clock support to cadets in IMEC’s training programmes worldwide.

Supporting young trainees before they start their careers as seafarers is crucial to laying the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable life at sea, and IMEC is leading the way as the first organisation to partner with ISWAN to set up a helpline specifically for IMEC Cadets.

The cadets who will benefit from this helpline are currently enrolled in IMEC-funded training programmes, which are delivered in partnership with leading maritime academies in the Philippines, India, and South Africa. These initiatives are fully sponsored by IMEC members and aim to provide high-quality education and career pathways for aspiring seafarers from diverse backgrounds. The helpline was created to allow Cadets to talk to ISWAN about a range of mental health challenges they are facing during their time in training. They often describe feeling isolated and lonely due to homesickness and limited communication with family and friends, and there is high pressure to perform well in their studies. They also share that there can be a stigma around expressing concerns or seeking help, which discourages them from speaking up and can leave them feeling like they have no-one to turn to.

A listening ear and a safe space for cadets to talk through challenges can make the difference between thriving or struggling during training. A support service can also help cadets build coping mechanisms for challenging times, creating a safer workforce and reducing the risk of more serious mental health issues developing.

Recognising this, IMEC has partnered with ISWAN to provide an independent emotional support service available to cadets on any of IMEC’s courses in the Philippines, India, South Africa and elsewhere. The helpline is multilingual, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by telephone, live chat, e-mail and WhatsApp.

As part of this service, IMEC will receive anonymised reports from ISWAN to provide an invaluable insight into the specific challenges to health, safety and wellbeing facing its cadets so the organisation can respond with targeted, preventative measures. These insights will also inform ISWAN’s work and help tailor the support it provides to cadets.

“At IMEC, we are deeply committed to the wellbeing of our cadets, who represent the future of the maritime industry. The launch of this dedicated support helpline marks a significant milestone in our efforts to ensure that our cadets have access to the care and guidance they need, wherever they are in the world. We are proud to collaborate with ISWAN on this initiative, which reflects our shared values of compassion, inclusivity, and proactive mental health support. Launching this service on World Mental Health Day underscores the importance of prioritising mental wellbeing across the maritime sector.”
– Simon Spacey, Chairman, IMEC

Companies and organisations interested in setting up a dedicated emotional support service for their crew can find out more and get in touch with ISWAN at www.iswan.org.uk/services/.