
- The pressure to meet deadlines, keep up with the fast pace of news, and stay ahead of the competition can create chronic stress.
- Mental health plays a critical role throughout the careers of journalists, as they face unique and evolving challenges that can impact their psychological well-being.
- Newsrooms should offer specific support for journalists facing online harassment, including legal support, social media safety training, and emotional counselling.
Journalists face unique and intense mental health challenges due to the nature of their work. Many journalists are exposed to traumatic events, high stress, tight deadlines, and demanding work environments.
Over time, this can take a toll on their mental well-being.
Mental health plays a critical role throughout the careers of journalists, as they face unique and evolving challenges that can impact their psychological well-being.
The stressors and mental health concerns they face often shift depending on their role, experience, and the type of reporting they do.
Some mental health issues that affect journalists include:
Exposure to trauma:
Journalists, particularly those covering wars, disasters, or crime, are frequently exposed to traumatic events, either directly or indirectly.
This can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that results to journalists experiencing flashbacks, anxiety, and nightmares after witnessing or reporting on distressing situations.
Stress and burnout:
The pressure to meet deadlines, keep up with the fast pace of news, and stay ahead of the competition can create chronic stress.
This may lead to burnout which is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It can result in feelings of detachment from the job and a decrease in performance.
Anxiety and panic disorders can also occur to journalists because they face immense pressure to perform under tight deadlines, which can lead to persistent anxiety or even panic attacks.
Moral injury:
Journalists may face ethical dilemmas, especially when they witness injustices or violence but feel powerless to help or report on it fully.
This can lead to moral injury, a form of distress caused by actions or lack of actions that violate one’s moral code.
Workplace harassment and abuse:
Journalists especially women and minority reporters, face harassment, both in the workplace and online.
This can manifest as online harassment whereby in this digital age, journalists have faced increased incidences of trolling, threats, and personal attacks which can lead to increased anxiety and depression.
Gender-based or racial harassment often occurs to female journalists and journalists of colour where they may experience additional stress from discriminatory comments or workplace inequalities.
Lack of work-life balance:
This is mostly caused by irregular working hours and high demands of journalism often making it difficult for journalists to establish a healthy work-life balance.
Constant availability, particularly with the rise of 24/7 news cycles, contributes to family and relationships strains due to the demanding nature of journalist’s work which can lead to further emotional stress.
Stigma and lack of support:
In many newsroom cultures, mental health issues are stigmatised, making it difficult for journalists to seek help.
There is often a “tough it out” mentality, which discourages open discussion about mental health struggles.
Additionally, some news organisations may lack sufficient support systems, such as mental health counselling or debriefing after traumatic assignments.
Despite all the mental challenges that journalists face, there are strategies that can be employed to support journalists in their journalism careers. These include:
Trauma-informed trainings:
This is where journalists should receive training in how to manage the psychological effects of covering traumatic events. This includes coping strategies, understanding PTSD, and seeking help when needed.
Mental health support programmes:
News organisations can provide access to counselling services, Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP), and mental health hotlines specifically geared toward journalists.
Peer support networks are also beneficial, allowing journalists to discuss their experiences with others who understand the unique challenges of the profession.
Debriefing and reflection:
Through implementing regular debriefing sessions after covering traumatic events, journalists can be helped to process their experiences in a healthy way.
Reflections and conversations about the emotional impact of stories should be encouraged to prevent long-term psychological effects.
Encouraging healthy work-life balance:
News organisations should promote policies that prioritise mental health, such as ensuring reasonable working hours, allowing for breaks, and encouraging time off for mental health recovery. Establishing boundaries for work and personal life is crucial.
Challenging the stigma around mental health:
The culture of newsrooms needs to shift to normalise discussions about mental health.
Journalists should be able to express their struggles without fear of stigma or career repercussions.
Online harassment support:
Newsrooms should offer specific support for journalists facing online harassment, including legal support, social media safety training, and emotional counselling.
This is particularly important for women and minority journalists who face a disproportionate amount of online abuse.
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In conclusion, journalists face unique mental health challenges throughout their careers, from the pressure of breaking into the industry to the psychological toll of covering traumatic events.
By implementing supportive strategies such as trauma-informed training, debriefing, mental health resources among other strategies, newsrooms can create environments that protect the mental well-being of their staff.
Mental health should be prioritised as much as professional development, for journalists to thrive both personally and professionally.
Ms. Mwende works at the Media Council of Kenya. Her email address is mjackline3325@gmail.com