{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T02:04:18Z","timestamp":1789610658083,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Journal","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diving Hyperb Med"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction: Little is known about the occupational health needs of commercial divers, particularly regarding psychological wellbeing, trauma exposure, organisational support, and the adequacy of training for high\u2011risk environments. This study qualitatively explored pathways into commercial diving, experiences of psychological strain and trauma, perceptions of support, and the relevance of training from the perspectives of divers, supervisors, and industry representatives.\nMethods: This qualitative study used semi\u2011structured interviews and focus groups with purposively sampled participants (n = 20 men). Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.\nResults: Three themes were identified: (1) pathways into a high\u2011risk occupation shaped by financial incentives, risk acceptance, and informal entry routes; (2) psychological strain characterised by reported exposure to traumatic events, normalisation of distress, stigma surrounding mental health disclosure, and predominantly reactive organisational support; and (3) perceived inadequacies in training, described as generic, low\u2011fidelity, and insufficiently aligned with the operational realities of offshore and saturation diving, alongside limited opportunities to practise key skills, contributing to feelings of unpreparedness during emergencies.\nConclusions: Participants described commercial diving as associated with substantial and often unaddressed psychological burden, compounded by cultural stigma, structural barriers to help\u2011seeking, and predominantly reactive support systems. Training provision was perceived as outdated and insufficiently aligned with operational demands, with limited organisational investment in development. Findings suggest that industry\u2011wide efforts may be needed to implement proactive mental\u2011health strategies and improve the alignment of training with operational realities.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.28920\/dhm56.3.226-236","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T01:38:36Z","timestamp":1789609116000},"page":"226-236","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Occupational health challenges in commercial diving: a qualitative study of psychological risk, training gaps, and organisational responsibilities"],"prefix":"10.28920","volume":"56","author":[{"given":"Holly","family":"Blake","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Basharat","family":"Hussain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lianne","family":"Hufton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Emergency Department, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elisha","family":"Cousins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Emergency Department, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Graham","family":"Johnson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, Emergency Department, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrew","family":"Tabner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, Emergency Department, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"11463","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"container-title":["Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Journal"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T01:38:38Z","timestamp":1789609118000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dhmjournal.com\/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=440"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.28920\/dhm56.3.226-236","relation":{},"ISSN":["2209-1491"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2209-1491","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]}}}