Psychological Support for Sailors: How to Cope with Separation

A long separation from family and loved ones is one of the main challenges sailors face while working at sea. According to studies, about 60% of sailors experience significant psychological pressure due to isolation and lack of stable contact with their loved ones.

This often leads to stress, depression, and conflicts within the family. Therefore, it is important to know how to maintain mental balance and support emotional health even during long voyages.

How to cope with separation from family while you are at sea?

In this material, we have compiled practical tips to help understand the psychology of sailors and overcome the difficulties of working away from home.

Regular online communication

Communicating with loved ones is a true support for a sailor. It is best to establish a specific schedule for calls, video chats, and messaging right away. This helps avoid conflicts arising from delayed responses or only contacting them at certain times.

Tip: make sure to pay special attention to children during communication – it is extremely important for them to feel that their parent is nearby, interested in their lives, and involved in their upbringing, even while away at sea.

Another great option is video messages and voice messages, especially for children. If your children are already preschool or school age, you can read them stories, share how your boat is arranged, tell sea tales – this helps bring you closer together.

Supporting physical activity and hobbies

Sailors often encounter physical and emotional exhaustion due to the lack of active rest. Physical exercises are a great way to relieve stress, improve mood, and maintain health. Various hobbies, from solving crossword puzzles to music, can also serve as important distractions. Additionally, working on new skills or goals helps maintain emotional resilience.

Tip: Incorporate daily physical exercises into your schedule. This helps improve your well-being and set a positive mood.

Stay connected with friends and colleagues

Social support is important not only from family but also from colleagues or friends. Spending time together, discussing work and personal matters allows sailors to feel less isolated. The team on board often becomes an important support.

Tip: Be open to communication with colleagues on board, maintain contacts, and build friendly ties. This will help reduce stress and cope with difficulties. It’s also great to go on voyages with friends.

Planning time for rest and vacation

A key factor in maintaining mental health is proper planning of rest time. When you know there is a clear return date home, it can reduce stress levels. It is also important to take care of yourself during breaks—plan your vacation so that it truly feels like a rest from work.

Tip: Carefully plan your schedule and vacation. This will allow you to prepare for your return home in advance and maintain emotional health.

Psychological support for sailors

Do not hesitate to seek help if stress or depression begins to affect your well-being. Many sailors do not seek professional support due to stereotypes, but sometimes a psychologist or psychotherapist can be the one to help find a way out of a tough situation.

Tip: If you feel anxious, do not hesitate to contact a psychologist. The sooner you receive psychological support, the easier it will be to endure separation.

How the Odessa Crewing Agency supports sailors

At Odessa Crewing Agency, we understand how important the psychological well-being of a sailor is. In addition to helping find the dream type of fleet, position, and salary level, we also select voyages of optimal duration. This helps reduce the risk of emotional burnout and stress, as well as create a balance between work and personal