PUTRAJAYA: The challenges of sailing at sea for months and being separated from family, including the 'no work, no pay' situation, have contributed to mental health issues among sailors.
Malaysian Offshore Seafarers (MOS) president, Captain Nizam Abdul Razak Khalim said insufficient attention from responsible authorities has led to the neglect of their welfare as compared to workers in other sectors in the country.
He said sailors also face work pressure, having to work more than 12 hours a day with short rest periods, in addition to facing various high risks that contribute to mental health problems.
He said procedures for sign-on/off activities enforced by authorities during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow sailors to disembark at ports needed to be re-evaluated.
"These procedures burden sailors because previously, they could disembark freely as compared to now where they need to go through agents to obtain permission from authorities; and costs must be borne by sailors and this is a burden to them," he said.
Nizam was speaking during a Health and Wellness Programme for Sailors under Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (ANMS) organised by the Health Ministry recently.
The inaugural programme by the ministry also involved the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso), Maritime Department, National Union of Seafarers Peninsular Malaysia (NUSPM), Mental Health Excellence Malaysia Centre, the navy's Marine Engineering Technical and Design Division, and the Malaysia Offshore Support Vessel Owners' Association (MOSVA).
Nizam said the problems faced by sailors lead to mental health issues with some of them experiencing anxiety and suicide.
That is why he lauded the programme by the MOH because it helped sailors obtain information to address the issue and get help for these issues.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry Education Division population wellness chief, Dr Vanitha Subramaniam said the maiden programme aims to share ideas and information about the career of sailors while addressing the problems they face.
She said the objective of Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat or ANMS, which was introduced in 2021, was to promote a healthy lifestyle, strengthen health welfare services, empower self-health control and enhance environment cleanliness for all quarters.
"ANMS is not only the responsibility of MOH but it must be carried out in collaboration with non-governmental organisations, associations and local communities in promoting a healthy agenda to their respective target groups," she said.