helpinghand@thecrewmess.org
secondchance@thecrewmess.org
Who are we?
- We are a safe space for you to make first contact with a small team of ex/serving yacht crew as well as industry professionals who have joined forces to provide a free service to those in the industry that are at their lowest ebb and are suffering from either drug or alcohol problems.
- Your privacy is paramount to us and as such we have no social media presence and rely solely on word of mouth from person to person to pass on our services to those that are in need whether it is you that is suffering or a crew member that you care for.
What we do for you - the sufferer.
- We provide the support and care you need to recognise your situation and to openly ask us for help.
- Those afflicted with a drug or alcohol addiction often fail to understand the health and emotional consequences of addiction and often minimise the seriousness of the situation in their mind.
- Often, arriving at a solution seems impossible and in searching the internet for a solution, the options available probably seem vast and confusing and you seem lost.
- If you are at that point and are looking and can ask for help, then you are ready to work with us.
- If you are not ready to ask us for help then keep repeating the same insane behaviour until you are ready…
And we’ll always be here for you…
- Once you have asked us for help, our aim is to support you through the early stages of recognition as to the type of problem you have and to guide you to the next stage which is to find the right programme, service, treatment centre recovery house or specialist individual therapy councillor that may be right for you.
- Everyone is different and as such you need to understand the options that suit you, your problem or your employment situation.
What we do for your fellow crew members.
- The Crew Mess can arrange for a drug or alcohol intervention to be done on board the vessel or at a crew members home if they have been unable to get help themselves and they are now at serious risk of death or injury through their actions.
- The primary intervention and following advice and counselling services we offer are provided free to charge and are undertaken by us in a fully confidential and within a safe space.
- Post intervention we give the crew on board the mental health support they need so they can speak openly and without judgment from others about their experiences in dealing with an addict or alcoholic onboard the vessel.
- We support the crew with counselling as well as provide them with future coping and identifying techniques to manage the situation when that crew member returns to work.
The Signs.
Do they or have you started to exhibit any of the following signs?
- Secretive behaviour
- Borrowing lots of money
- Legal or financial problems
- Frequent aggression
- Mood swings
- Distancing from people
- Deteriorating appearance
- Issues with performing work tasks
- Long periods of isolation in their cabin
- Consistent Health problems
- Building tolerance to substances like alcohol
- Last to return to the yacht each night
- Disappearances from work or at the end of a charter.
- Don’t wait until you or your crew member hits rock bottom before intervening
- Don’t assume that you or your crew member is strong enough to get sober or clean
- If trying to stop failed you or them once then it will probably fail again.
- Don’t leave this too late as it may just be their last chance.
Drugs & Alcohol.
The three main problems we are dedicated to helping, and the three most common types of addictions that require interventions are:
1. Alcoholism
Alcoholism is the addiction, overuse, and dependency on alcohol
2. Prescription drug use
Prescription drug use becomes a problem when someone begins to use prescription drugs outside of the direction of a doctor, in larger quantities than the doctor recommended, or more often than recommended
3. Class A,B & C Drug abuse
Drug use or abuse is the overuse or dependency on any Class A,B & C drug.
Interventions.
We provide a free of charge two-stage intervention service for individuals as well as the vessels Crew.
Ultimately, there are five key things to know and remember at all times about intervention.
They are as follows:
1. An intervention is a strategic plan to help a crew member seek treatment for their addiction
2. The ultimate goal of the intervention is to ensure the person who is addicted to particular substances gets the help
and support they need
3. An intervention is not a shaming, judgemental, or blame-passing activity
4. Intervention is all about creating a safe, empathic and healthy environment for all involved
5. Interventions can be emotionally difficult, but they are worth it in the long run
Intervention is, in essence, a meeting between family, crew, captain, management, colleagues or friends which takes place in the presence of the afflicted crew member and most sensibly, an ex-yacht crew member who is also a professional addiction counsellor.
The Crew mess specialist will take guiding charge over the meeting and will control the flow of the discussion.
This ensures charged emotions are kept at bay on both all sides.
The professional intervention of this nature often means the crew member will take the proceedings seriously from the start.
The aim of the meeting is to ensure they fully appreciates the health implications of his or her addiction and so that they understand addiction to drugs and alcohol is considered a medical illness like any other.
Timing.
A key aspect of interventions is timing. It is easy to postpone an intervention for fear of upsetting or even worsening the habits, of the addict in question.
Furthermore, the fact that you love and care for the person who is suffering makes it even more difficult for you and those who also want to intervene to broach the topic of getting help for an addiction.
However, it is integral to remember that in the long run, intervention could save your crew members life.
If an intervention is successful, an addict will enter a treatment plan, but how do you help them then?
In most treatment programs, they will have access to lots of professionals to help them work through their personal issues.
If you can simply continue to support them, but also as they go through the process, it is okay to need to talk to them and be honest with them about how their addiction affected you and in dealing with that it will help your relationship or friendship heal.
Other 'Rock Bottom' Services.
1. 24/7 Addiction & Alcoholism intervention service (EU, Caribbean, US and Australasia)
2. Victim of Bullying & Predatory & Sexual Harassment behaviours counselling
3. On board PTSD counselling including addiction /Bereavement / Fire / Accident counselling service
4. Careers advisory for those in recovery & Safe yacht placements under vessel sponsorship