PUTRAJAYA, July 28 (Bernama) — The mental health status of working women in Malaysia remains manageable compared to that in Western countries, but advocacy and early intervention remain crucial to prevent stress from escalating into more serious issues.
National Welfare Foundation (YKN) chief executive officer Nordina Haron said that most women in the country are still able to balance career and family affairs, despite facing emotional challenges in their daily lives.
“In Malaysia, women can still manage both work and family matters. However, if left unchecked, stress can affect their emotional well-being. That’s why intervention programmes like the Local Social Support Centre (PSSS) are important, we intervene before the situation worsens,” she told the media during a PSSS YKN session organised by the Malaysian Women Journalists Association (PERTAMA) here.
She explained that working women often experience stress related to family problems, demanding work tasks, or caregiving responsibilities, particularly when caring for elderly parents, which can be especially challenging for unmarried women.
“I have met many high-ranking women who remain unmarried but are caring for their sick mothers. If stress is not well managed, it can disrupt their emotional balance,” she said.
Therefore, Nordina said YKN deeply values its collaboration with PERTAMA, recognising that female journalists are often exposed to emotional strain, especially when covering distressing or tragic events involving the suffering of the people.
“Sometimes only women can truly understand this issue. Female journalists often witness heartbreaking moments, for example, mothers crying in court over children involved in drugs or petty crimes driven by poverty. These emotional burdens are not easily left at work, and psychosocial support sessions help them process and release those feelings,” she said.
According to Nordina, PSSS is now actively carrying out intervention programmes nationwide, covering the central, northern, southern, and eastern zones, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.
The session organised by PERTAMA saw the participation of more than 30 female journalists, who took part in a range of activities including mental health screening using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) test, metaphysical personality analysis based on drawings and date of birth, and stress-relief techniques such as using stress balls and breathing exercises.
Meanwhile, PERTAMA president Sariha Mohd Ali described the programme as an extraordinary and eye-opening experience that raised awareness about the importance of mental health care among media professionals.
“Sometimes we may appear healthy on the outside, but deep down we carry emotional burdens we are unaware of. Even simple activities like drawing can reveal aspects of our personality and underlying stress.
“Insya Allah, we will continue to plan more programmes like this with varied approaches, to better understand the emotional toll media professionals endure,” she said.
The two-day one-night programme organised by PERTAMA, which began last Saturday, was held at Glamping@Wetland Putrajaya.
With the theme “Rest, Reflection and Support Network”, the programme was designed to create a safe space for women in the media to rejuvenate, open up, and build connections.
Beyond the mental health screening sessions and emotional awareness activities, participants also engaged in physically demanding challenges such as all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rides, promoting team spirit and resilience.
Established on January 12, 1971, PERTAMA is an association that brings together female journalists from various media agencies nationwide. It was founded by the late Azah Aziz, a pioneer in Malaysian journalism.
Since its establishment, PERTAMA has remained committed to professional development, ethical journalism and advocating for the rights and advancement of women journalists in Malaysia.
— BERNAMA