Stress is a biological response of the body to challenging situations. It causes the body to release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones help the body to take action, for example, by increasing heart rate and breathing frequency. Many factors that increase psychological pressure, such as dangerous situations, length of working hours, difficult working conditions, exams and sports events, can trigger the stress response.
Published in Chapter:
Before, During, and After: Systemic Approaches to Trauma Support in Seafarers
Alexander Dimitrevich (IMCRS, Ukraine & MHSS, Ukraine) and Daniel Conor Seyle (One Earth Future Foundation, USA)
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 15
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-9039-3.ch020
Abstract
This chapter will review the environmental and social stressors that seafarers face regularly and the associated risk of significant behavioral health impact with a particular focus on the risk of traumatic stress impacts. It will present research suggesting that such impacts have economic and performance impacts, in addition to their human impact, and research demonstrating that such impacts can cost-effectively be mitigated by relatively simple behavioral health interventions. Finally, it will propose a “before, during, and after” strategy that manning agencies and shipowners can adopt to equip seafarers with the appropriate tools to mitigate the impacts of maritime stressors.