Special Report: Journalists Mental Health Matter

Journalists Are Not Robots, They Are Humans With A Soul...

Journalists are mostly the first people to consume both good and bad information before it goes to public space. Some of this information often gets passed the thick skins of these information carriers to their minds, especially ugly incidents, events of special interests or concerns.

The truth remains that journalists are humans with a soul, they belong to a religious group, a tribe and they have interests. They are not robots devoid of any emotions.

Many journalists have been affected emotionally from the constant exposure of negative news, horrible incidents, especially those in crime beats, politics, and other sensitive beats and from all these no one seems to care about the mental health of Journalists, not the organisations and not even the journalists themselves.

Some of the journalists contacted for this report agreed that bad news gets the better part of them, it gradually crawls onto them and snowballs into something bigger which often leads to depression, anxiety, bad moods and sleeping and eating disorders. Some said they only suffered temporary emotional trauma; just that moment and they moved on afterwards.

According to a Dart Center report, at least 80% of journalists have been exposed to work-related trauma. The effects of covering traumatic events over a long period of time can have negative effects on journalists themselves.

Take for instance, the last election in Nigeria, many journalists were involved in the elections coverage, many are yet to recover from the effects of the election, some journalists contacted said they have consciously stayed away from some social media space and any news relating to the 2023 election to save themselves from further emotional break down.  

Do you know that many journalists are so concerned about churning out news stories on a daily and weekly basis that they neglect their mental health and even personal life pursuit? They have other dreams and aspirations but can't break out because of the constant duty calls.  They deep themselves into the pool of delivering their pages, writing stories that they lost themselves in doing their paid job.

So I blame the journalists too, then I ask who is concerned about journalists' mental health?

I will advocate for a routine mental check for all journalists. Media organisations can make it mandatory for all journalists because a sound minded journalist will give sound reportage.

Then the working environment should be conducive, seren and soothing to the mind.

Then as a journalist, you should pay attention to your mental health. When you are losing it, seek help. Take a rest and revitalise your mind with things that give you pleasure and that will rest your mind. Like they say, all work and no play makes you sad and dull. Take time off to play, it helps to refuel your mind. And a little play won't make that story not fly.