Thank you @suntexmarinas for being my platinum sponsor for this event.

'The Current Climate of Crew Mental Health in the Superyacht Sector' Captain Kelly shared the current climate of the industry and state of the yachtie mind as it relates to her most recent mental health survey. She will discussed areas of much needed improvement and who has the greatest ability to make an impact along with what we are doing right within the industry.

Yachtie Minds Matter . Listen in to Captain Kelly J. Gordon's Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Seminar of Mental Health in Yachting. Get statistics about crew mental health, hear real life stories, and get resources to help yourself and others become their own advocates!

Yachtie Minds Matter: A mental health conversation with Captain Kelly And engaging discussion on what can be done within the yachting sector to combat sexual harassment, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, and gender discrimination amongst crew of all ranks. Through complete transparency and vulnerability they offered insights on how to navigate the all too common shortfalls of such a wonderful industry. Guests learned how to become your own advocate, speak up for your mental health, what resources are available, and become a step in changing the darker side of the industry to a much brighter future. Captain Kelly J Gordon of Yachtie Minds Matter and guest speaker Emma Ross MONACO YACHT SHOW: ACREW BUSINESS LOUNGE 2023 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ON 28th SEP 2023 (UTC+2), OCEANOGRAPHIC MUSEUM, MONACO

Captain Kelly advocates that mental health in yachting should be encouraged on all levels. Kelly shares her struggles with mental health, recounting experiences at her lowest points, to the extent of considering suicide. She discusses the support she received both biochemically and situationally, and how her mental health improved. “I want to just encourage and inspire people to do the work, to not give up, because I was going to, and to be able to say that I am so happy now is inspiring to my own self,” she says. “I want people to know that if you’re willing to put the work in, you can really, truly live your best life.” As a captain, she has witnessed some of the worst from the industry — the harassment, the drug and alcohol abuse, the bullying. She wants to change things. It’s important, she believes, for current crew to speak up and share their experiences. “I’ve developed a voice in the industry, and I feel like I’m in a good place to use it. I’m not afraid to speak out,” she says. “I’m not afraid to say it like it is and call a spade a spade and to share my own very real experiences and try to encourage people to speak out.” All crew deserve a safe working environment. “You have an obligation to your own self and to the rest of your crewmembers to make sure you have a safe and healthy and happy work environment,” she says. We can’t get there if people don’t speak up when confronted with issues. “I feel a moral obligation to use my voice to make this industry better, one crewmember at a time,” Kelly says. “I really feel like if you’re going to be on this planet sucking up all the oxygen, you need to do some things to give back while you’re here.” Dockwalk and Capt. Kelly Gordon hosted a mental health discussion during the Monaco Yacht Show. “Mental Health in Yachting: A Talk by Capt. Kelly” took place at the Captains & Crew Lounge on Saturday, September 30, at 11 a.m.

Captain Kelly hosted a mental health panel discussion to highlight the imminent need for industry awareness and solutions to crew member mental health concerns by speaking openly and honestly about what really happens above and below deck. We discussed mental health with crew and other industry leaders to identify who has the greatest ability and responsibility to influence change, what is currently available, and where we go from here.

The United States Embassy!! In London!! And I'm still on cloud 9! 🇬🇧🇺🇸 I was asked to speak on a panel alongside some of the most well-respected individuals in the maritime industry at the US Embassy in London. The amazing thing is that the focus was to address the mental well-being of seafarers. Being a part of this change and being in the same room as these amazing people is a feeling I can't even describe. I get emotional thinking of how being in that room made me feel. People are seeing the need for change and Peter Hult from Vikand made it clear that there is, in fact, a crew crisis. And I am not stopping until all seafarers get the basic rights that they deserve: a mentally and physically safe space to thrive. Thank you, Vikand and Aon, for the invite; this was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I am honored. #mentalhealth