Loneliness at sea linked to sleep loss and heart strain, experts warn

Maritime health and wellness platform OneCare Group is urging shipping companies to take proactive steps to support crew members during key moments in the year when feelings of loneliness may intensify. 

As families prepare celebrations over the Easter period, the group said, this can be a stark reminder to seafarers of what they are missing out on. In that context, it urged companies not to miss signs of silent distress, warning that these can lead to a mental health crisis among crew members. 

The platform, which includes WellAtSea, Marine Medical Solutions, Mental Health Support Solutions, and OneLearn Global, said that while seafaring has always required resilience, companies must also acknowledge the hardship that key celebrations in the calendar can bring. 

“As an industry, we must ensure that crew members are not only physically safe but emotionally supported,” said Marinos Kokkinis, chief executive of OneCare Group, adding that proactive communication, accessible wellbeing services, and visible leadership empathy can make a measurable difference. 

At the same time, the group pointed to research showing that prolonged separation from loved ones can have tangible health consequences. Jens Tülsner, chief executive of Marine Medical Solutions, said extended absence from partners and families can significantly affect both mental and physical health. 

He noted that chronic loneliness and emotional stress have been linked to sleep disturbances, weakened immune function, cardiovascular strain, and increased risk of anxiety and depression.  

For seafarers, he added, who already operate in high-demand environments, such pressures can compound fatigue and affect overall performance and safety. 

OneCare Group is encouraging shipping companies to implement practical measures throughout the year, but particularly during holiday seasons, including enhanced onboard communications access, facilitated virtual family events, confidential counselling services, peer-support initiatives, and leadership check-ins to acknowledge the emotional weight of such periods. 

Meanwhile, Gisa Paredes, managing director at WellAtSea, underscored the importance of self-leadership as a foundation for overall wellbeing. 

“Self-leadership is the foundation of life at sea,” she said, adding that when crew members take responsibility for their mindset, energy, and behaviour, they strengthen not only their own wellbeing but the entire vessel’s culture. 

Onboard a ship, she said, where challenges are constant and space is shared, the ability to lead yourself with discipline, empathy, and resilience is what transforms a crew into a cohesive, high-performing team.  

She added that self-leadership is crucial for seafarers to take control of their own journeys at sea, including their health, career opportunities, mindset and attitude. 

In the same vein, Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS) said industry leaders must also recognise the symbolic weight of holidays and key celebrations. 

Charles Watkins, clinical director of operations at MHSS, said companies must acknowledge that key celebrations and holidays can be emotionally difficult for many crew members. 

He added that even a simple recognition from shore-based management that this period may be challenging can validate feelings and reduce stigma around speaking up. In his words, emotional support is not separate from operational excellence, it underpins it, while crews who feel valued and understood are more engaged, resilient, and safe. 

Overall, OneCare Group recommended that operators treat such occasions as an opportunity to reinforce long-term wellbeing commitments rather than as a one-off initiative. 

“By fostering open dialogue, strengthening access to mental health support, and recognising the human realities of life at sea, companies can help mitigate isolation and reinforce a culture of care”, it concluded.