Mental Illness and the MN

[Jacyn Wade]

Quick question, gents. If one had a mental illness, such as schizophrenia, how long would a person last in the MN? When you join the MN, are you put through a medical, both physical and mental? Or, should I ask, would you have been in the '50s?

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Jacyn
Well just for me this is,when i joined in 1958 it was in Cape Town,and was a very different story to most Lads here Today@!
As i was taken on with UCL on a two Year contract direct through the then UCL Offices in Cape Town,i was so rushed to get all my papers in order,like Police clearance etc that there wasnt even time for me to have a Medical!
I was signed on baord my first Ship,and put to work immediately!
Sailed on Temporary papers untill we got to Southampton,it was only then that i was taken to fix up all the necessary,and yes a Full Medical was then done.
So you see iot wasnt like the Lads here that went through the various Training Schools!
But dare say you will be getting various answers on this!
Cheers

[Keith at Tregenna]

LINK: http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/f...s-insane-4785/

Apparently it was normal to appear in relative good health for periods, uncertain if this is similar to what you seek, but may explain to some extent. A sailor could suffer a major illness, yet if not returned home, could if seemed fit enough actually work his ticket etc ?

Some illness went on for years with seemingly good periods, hence a sailor could sail at times ?

Hope this helps in some way:

K.

[Jacyn Wade]

Very interesting, thanks Keith.

My direction is specifically schiziophrenia and/or manic depression. It has been told to me that my father was diagnosed with both, which is rare, but I am led to believe that there's no way he could have served 20 years with the MN, at least 4 years with the RCAF and obtained his Master Diver certificate had he truly suffered from either schizophrenia and manic depression. I suppose what I'm looking for is confirmation of my thoughts from you lads, the experts.

[Keith at Tregenna]

IF I COME ACROSS MORE:

And will look. yourself and all on site, will be first to know. May take a while as just real busy at the mo, But will try. K.

[Keith Moody]

when i joined the MN in 1955, you had to have a medical to go to the sea training shool, this was followed by the New Zealand shipping co. medical before joining the Ruahine. following my time on this ship I ended up with P&O. again you had to have a medical before joinng a ship, only this time the old Doctor mainly talked about his 50 years at sea, the advice he gave me (A 15 year old) was not to spend too much time in the sun and after work each day have a tot of rum to relax, sometimes this was not possible so when in port I had to catch up!!! when i came to them again in 1961 and they employed me for the Canberra i didn`t have any medical, maybe by that time they were not doing medicals anymore, i had been on other company ships where no medicals were done. mainly all medicals were for physical being more than the mind.
keith moody
R635978

[Tony Morcom]

In the 70s I had just one medical by my local GP which was organised by the company. I also had to have a dental examination plus the obligatory eye test to make sure I could tell the difference between red and green for obvious reasons. I think the whole lot took about 25 minutes. I think that my GP just naturally assumed that anyone wanting to go to sea in all weathers for months at a time was stark raving bonkers. I certainly believe that the medicals in the Royal Navy were considerably more thorough.

[John Callon]

Had a medical when I joined Cunard and P & O but it was basically a quick examination. In Bibbys all crew members were subjected to a medical every 6 months which was carried out by the Company Doctor, Dr Hall who had a practice in Bootle, Liverpool and was retained by the Company to carry out the duty. This was in the early 60's when Bibbys were operating the lst class passenger service to the far east. When that ceased so did the medicals.
John

[Bob Hollis]

In my time at sea medicals consisted of; drop your pants and cough followed by a colour blind test then an eyesight test plus vaccination certs, which always seemed to go astray meaning I now have vaccines enough to keep me alive even though I may be dead.
As for schizophrenia it was taken for granted that all seamen were multi-schizophrenic so no test was necessary, depression was optional and could be negated by means of a good and willing woman.

[John Callon]

[QUOTE=Bob Hollis;75827]In my time at sea medicals consisted of


Or half a case of Tennants and a bottle of 4 Bells.
John