Mental Health Support for Fishing Families
Support for fishermen, their families and their communities
Emergency or Crisis Support – At sea or on land
FPSS offices are not walk-in health facilities and if this is a medical or mental health crisis, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room or refer to the information on our website.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis; please contact:
At Sea
USCG: Mayday Call – The USCG treats mental health emergencies the same way as they would medical emergencies.
On Land or At Sea
Text 988 – National Crisis & Suicide Prevention Hotline
Riverside Trauma Center – Licensed mental health professionals that provide no-cost behavioral health support to fishing families.
Contact a Navigator for more information or call Riverside’s after-hours hotline at:
781-433-0672 (press 2 to access their 24/7 services)
Mental Health Resources
FPSS Navigators can help fishermen access health insurance that can cover mental health providers and specialists within their network.
FPSS Navigators are trained in Psychological First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, suicide prevention, and trauma support.
Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association
Blogs about fishing wellness and mental health.
Contact Monique Coombs to get started: monique@mainecoastfishermen.org
A podcast inspired by fishermen, for fishermen, that focuses on health, safety, and staying shipshape in the commercial fishing industry.
Please use these resources if you are experiencing a crisis, or to learn how to recognize signs of stress, how to manage stress, and when additional resources and aid are needed.
Partners of Commercial Fishermen
Resources and forum designed for partners.
Crisis Associated with Financial Stress
Financial instability in the commercial fishing industry, driven by factors like market volatility, climate change, and regulatory pressures, can lead to severe mental health challenges for fishermen.
Serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine
Call 978-465-7999 or reach out to a Navigator for assistance
Serving Massachusetts
Fill out the online form to request assistance or reach out to a Navigator to be connected.
Additional financial assistance available to the entire community may be available through local organizations. Reach out to a Navigator for more information on getting help.
FP NAVIGATORS ARE HERE TO HELP
Request Services
Are you or your spouse a fisherman? Do you come from a fishing family? Or, are you a shoreline worker that lives in a coastal community [that's anyone that has a job that supports fishermen getting their product to market and includes boat mechanics, fish cutters and lumpers to name a few]? We're here to help. Complete the Request for Services form and we'll answer your call.
Become a Friend
Show your support for fishermen, their families and coastal shoreline workers. Sign up as a Friend of Fishing Partnership and you'll receive news on local fisheries and learn what it takes to bring fresh seafood, sustainably caught, from the most highly regulated wild fisheries in the world to your dinner table. Learn what you can do to support fishing communities near you.