Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Journal

International Maritime Health

Volume

66

Issue

1

Inclusive Pages

49-51

DOI

10.5603/IMH.2015.0012

Keywords

Mental Disorders--diagnosis; Occupational Diseases--diagnosis; Suicidal Ideation; Telemedicine

Abstract

This case report highlights the successful use of telepsychiatric consultation by secure video chat to remotely assess a mariner expressing suicidal ideation. As a result of this intervention, telemedicine providers initiated psychiatric stabilisation while the mariner was still aboard the vessel, determined that he was safe for repatriation under the care of qualified medical escorts, and facilitated admission to a psychiatric facility near his home in the United States. Mental health emergencies are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among mariners. Telepsychiatry is a validated method of establishing a psychiatric diagnosis and disposition as well as assessing risk of suicidality and the potential for violent decompensation. It has the potential to be a valuable adjunct to any traditional maritime telemedicine service.

Comments

Reproduced with permission of Via Medica. International Maritime Health

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Peer Reviewed

1

Open Access

1

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