Enhanced Mental Health Support for Filipino Maritime Nurses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22804067Keywords:
Filipino maritime nurses, , mental health support, occupational stress, resilience, coping mechanisms, phenomenologyAbstract
This qualitative phenomenological study explored the psychological challenges, coping mechanisms, meaning-making, and mental health support needs of Filipino maritime nurses working in the distinctive conditions of shipboard healthcare. Ten Filipino registered nurses with direct maritime or shipboard nursing experience were selected through purposive, criterion-based sampling and participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim, verified against the audio files, anonymized using participant codes, and analyzed through Colaizzi’s phenomenological method, progressing from significant statements and formulated meanings to thematic clusters, an exhaustive description, and the fundamental structure of the phenomenon. The findings showed that maritime nurses experienced psychological pressure associated with geographic isolation, prolonged family separation, fatigue, irregular work schedules, confined and unstable environments, limited medical resources, emergency responsibilities, and multicultural interactions. They managed these demands through structured routines, work-rest regulation, exercise, sleep hygiene, controlled breathing, psychological detachment, peer support, and sustained communication with family and friends. Their experiences also strengthened professional autonomy, resourcefulness, critical thinking, adaptability, resilience, cultural competence, and professional purpose. A central finding was that resilience and vulnerability coexist: maritime nurses may remain highly functional under pressure while still requiring sustained psychological support. Participants emphasized the need for pre-deployment mental health preparation, confidential screening, peer support, 24/7 tele-mental health services, fatigue management, critical-incident support, Psychological First Aid, supportive leadership, and continuity of care. These findings informed the MARINERS WELL-BEING Framework, which positions mental health as a shared individual and organizational responsibility across pre-deployment, sea duty, and post-disembarkation.
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