Mental health in fishing communities: Stay Afloat

Factors such as isolation, financial burdens, regulations and livelihood insecurity mean many fishers experience high or very high rates of psychological distress. Many also report problems with fatigue and sleep.  

With funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Women in Seafood Australasia and Seafood Industry Australia developed a mental health pilot program – Stay Afloat. They recently received a commitment to further funding to expand and extend the successful pilot program over two years.

Developed by industry for industry, Stay Afloat has 4 pillars: 

• increase awareness and supports in 3 fishing communities – Darwin, Newcastle and Lakes Entrance, which will be expanded to up to 50 communities in 2023 and 2024
• reach out to local services (e.g. GPs) to support fishers experiencing mental health issues 
• deliver mental health first aid training across the country 
• provide community resilience funds to enable community action on mental health. 

“Stay Afloat has actually thought about the whole sequence from how you get someone to engage about their mental health right through to what happens when they seek help.”

Dr Kate Williams, Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Health Services Research Institute 

Evaluation findings show the program is delivering well against its planned activities. The program is well known across the industry, conversations about mental health are occurring in the communities, and industry and community interest in the program is strong.

The Stay Afloat program highlights lessons for others: 

• Link with existing networks, community and industry infrastructure to build on current activities and avoid duplication.  
• Tailor language and messaging to suit industry context and issues. This may involve research into current issues and ways of thinking and talking about mental health.  
• Target activities so you get the best return on effort (e.g. choose a place where many in the industry congregate).  
• Consider how to extend activities to family and friends.