Pratik Bijlani –
On January 28, the Women’s Wing of The Maritime Union of India (MUI) organized an insightful webinar titled “Managing Emotional Waves.” The event, dedicated to mental health awareness, brought attention to the emotional challenges faced by seafarers and their families, particularly wives, while offering tools and strategies for promoting resilience and well-being. With a distinguished panel of mental health experts, the session provided a space for dialogue, learning, and empowerment.
Moderated by Ms Saleha Shaikh, Founder and Head of the MUI Women’s Wing, the webinar featured esteemed speakers: Dr (Hon) Kusum Kanwar, a mental health coach; Ms Pouruchisti Ukaji, a core team member of MUI Women’s Wing; and Ms Girija Gopinath, a mental wellness expert. Capt Tushar Pradhan, General Secretary of MUI, opened the session with a heartfelt address. He acknowledged the emotional toll of a seafarer’s life on their families during periods of separation, emphasizing, “Initiatives like these are vital to addressing emotional well-being. I encourage everyone to take positive insights from this session.”
Dr Kanwar’s presentation on “Emotional Wellbeing” explored the essence of emotional health as “the awareness, understanding, and acceptance of our feelings, and our ability to effectively manage through challenges and changes.” Highlighting the anxiety, stress, and loneliness experienced by seafarers’ families, she stressed the importance of recognizing signs of mental strain and dispelling myths surrounding counselling. Her data-driven approach pointed to the alarming rate of suicides at sea, with 5.9% of all deaths linked to this issue, underscoring the urgency of
addressing mental health proactively.
Ms Gopinath’s presentation, “Self-Care for Emotional Wellbeing,” focused on empowering women to take ownership of their emotional health. Advocating mindfulness and introspection, she remarked, “Mindfulness and introspection are powerful tools to understand our thoughts and navigate triggers with clarity and composure.” Practical techniques like STOP (Stop, Take a breath, Observe, and Proceed) and gratitude exercises were introduced, along with stress-relieving activities such as journaling, breathing techniques, and setting boundaries. Her interactive session left attendees inspired to embrace self-care as a cornerstone of emotional resilience.
Ms Ukaji concluded the presentations with an introduction to Bach Flower Therapy, emphasizing its holistic approach to addressing emotional imbalances. She explained, “Bach Flower Remedies treat the root cause of any emotional imbalance, focusing on healing the mind and emotions rather than just addressing symptoms.” Drawing on the pioneering work of Dr Edward Bach, Ms Ukaji highlighted how the therapy could complement traditional treatments and foster a deeper sense of emotional balance and well-being.
The event culminated in a lively discussion where participants shared experiences and explored challenges like motherhood, separation anxiety, and work-life balance. The webinar not only addressed pressing concerns but also strengthened the bonds among attendees, creating a network of support for future engagements.
Such initiatives by the Women’s Wing of MUI are invaluable in raising awareness about mental health, a subject often overlooked in the maritime sector. By fostering open conversations and equipping families with tools for emotional well-being, the webinar exemplified a collective effort to enhance the quality of life for seafarers and their loved ones.
Marex Media