ASSESSING MENTAL HEALTH RISKS FOR MARINE ENGINEERS IN LONG-TERM ASSIGNMENTS THROUGH HR POLICY MODELS

Abstract

Marine engineers working in remote international locations or offshore typically endure an unparalleled level of mental strain, loneliness, and an unhealthy work-life configuration. This research intends to assess the mental health concerns amongst marine engineers in the context of long-term assignments and develop human resource policy frameworks to manage these risks. This study captures both intrinsic and extrinsic stressors impacting marine engineers by integrating occupational psychology, organizational behavior, human resource management, and relevant case studies. Primary data was gathered through structured interviews, self-administered mental health evaluation scales, and longitudinal HR analytics across several marine shipping firms. The study diagnosed specific psychological expressions of chronic fatigue, depressive symptoms, and anxiety clusters emerging from the key psychological patterns. Using these findings, we developed an adaptive HR policy framework which includes routine psychological assessment, remote counseling, rotation-based duty assignments, and training on emotional resilience. This model was validated by expert assessments and a pilot study with 87 marine engineers which showed measurable improvement in employee well-being, retention, and job performance. The model demonstrates a pragmatic solution to mental health risks through proactive institutional human resource policy actions designed to foster a culture of well-being.