Fishermen wanted for mental health research

Fishermen and their families in Newlyn can access free mental health support

Commercial fishermen in the South West are being encouraged to take part in a research study about their mental health.

It is hoped the England-wide study will help inform the government and other organisations in how to support coastal communities.

The project is funded by the University of Exeter and the Seafarers’ Charity amid challenges for the industry such as financial worries and environmental and regulatory changes.

In the Cornish port of Newlyn organisations supporting the fishing community say there has been an increase in fishermen seeking mental health advice.

Newlyn fisherman Nigel Taylor is a mental health advocate encouraging fellow others to talk about their problems

Nigel Taylor has fished out of Newlyn for 36 years, and five years ago he and a crewman were trawling off Land's End when the boat they were on caught fire.

They both survived, but Mr Taylor said he struggled with his mental health after the incident.

"It could have been a different outcome, I just couldn't get rid of the thought that I had that man's life in my hands, responsibility for his life. I took a long time to sort my head out around that, " he said.

Mr Taylor approached Fairwinds, a free mental health service for fishermen and their families.

He said: "I knew I needed to speak to somebody and they were there on the doorstep and it was absolutely brilliant. I was probably going to give up fishing and I had a pretty dark train of thought, so it might not have only been fishing that I would have given up.

"If that help was around 15 years ago, I can think of two, three, maybe even four people that if they'd had the opportunity to be able to go and speak to somebody, they might well still be here."

Ceri Summers from Fairwinds says they now offer support across Cornwall's ports

Mr Taylor is now a mental health advocate for Fairwinds, which has been available in Newlyn for the past six years and has expanded in that time across other Cornish ports.

Ceri Summers is the lead mental health practitioner and said they have seen an increase in the number of referrals.

"We've seen a culture shift in terms of people being willing to be open about their mental health. It's definitely been helped by having fishermen like Nigel within the community who have spoken so publicly and been willing to have conversations and reach out to other people," she said.

Eddie Fletcher is a welfare officer with the Fishermen's Mission based in Newlyn and said he has also noticed an increase in fishermen asking for help.

He said: "I would say the fishermen I've worked with, it's not those traditional risks that seem to have the biggest impact, that is what they sign up for and they're very resilient and adaptable to those things.

"Actually, it's those more modern uncertainties, such as policy changes and procedural changes, maybe the representation of fishing in the media. It's those things that seem to be causing more of an issue."

The University of Exeter research involves completing a survey and is for all commercial fishermen in England, not just those with current mental health concerns.