Suicide prevention at sea
The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) has partnered with Pacific Basin shipping to provide suicide prevention training for its crews. From August 2024 to June 2025, nearly 650 Pacific Basin seafarers in the Philippines completed the 'Safetalk' course, designed to help participants recognise warning signs, engage in open dialogue and connect at-risk colleagues with support. As Pacific Basin reported the training has already led to four critical interventions where trained crew responded to potential suicide cases, with no fatalities reported during this period.
"Suicide prevention is a difficult subject, but the response from Pacific Basin crew has been inspiring," said Tom O’Hare, programme manager at MtS. He stressed that the training equips seafarers with awareness and confidence to act. Feedback described the programme as "essential" and "lifesaving", with participants urging that all seafarers should receive this form of training. (js)