As the holidays approach for much of the world, marine insurance specialist the Swedish Club and Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS) have produced a children’s book designed to explain why parents working at sea spend so much time away from home.
The story Our Family and the Sea explores the stress of separation and takes children on a journey of understanding as to why their parents spend extended periods away at sea.
The book tells the story of Angelo and Mutya, whose father goes to sea for many months aboard an ocean-going cargo ship. During the story, older sibling Angelo is upset that his father is going to miss his birthday, while younger daughter Mutya dreams of a blue whale who takes her to sea to visit her father at work. The children are supported by their mother, grandparents, and friends as they work through their feelings and learn to understand their father’s life as a seafarer.
“A strong connection to family is one of the most significant contributors to a seafarer’s mental and emotional health, especially given the challenges of prolonged separation,” commented Lorraine Hager, loss prevention and marketing advisor at the Swedish Club.
The book is accessible free online here.
