Covering the news, ignoring the pain

Jamal (alias) was a district correspondent of a reputed TV channel. During the July Revolution, he had to work day and night. 

While the violence was disproportionately high in Dhaka, the tension was no less in Jamal's district. He saw young students brutally beaten. People came to him for guidance in those unprecedented times. 

Rumours were also rife, and so was Awami League cadres' surveillance on him. He would be followed, his family members used to get threatening calls telling them to make Jamal stop with his reports.  

Unlike his Dhaka-based colleagues who could rest, if needed, he could not afford a break. He is the only correspondent in the district. 

The toll on his mental health began with paranoia. He also lost his appetite and became grumpy. Then the nightmares began. Even when there was no threat anymore, he failed to "shake off" the effects of working as a local journalist during the Revolution. 

Consequently, Jamal went to a psychiatrist in Dhaka. This is where he broke down in tears.

"I don't want to go to work anymore but what else can I do? If I stop, I'll be fired! The business is not going well, and I will not be able to get a new job." 

Jamal is not alone. This is a common predicament for many journalists across the country. 

The mental health of journalists, particularly those working in high-stakes, high-pressure situations, is often overlooked. While journalists are perceived as resilient, this perception masks the emotional toll of reporting on traumatic events—be it war, natural disasters or violence. 

Recently, two journalists reportedly died by suicide. Rahanuma Sarah, a newsroom editor at GTV, was found dead on 28 August while Shimanto Khokon, NTV's news editor, was found dead on 1 October — highlighting the gravity of the toll inflicted upon journalists. 

"I can't sleep because of the scenes I witnessed. Every night, I fear someone will attack me. I still can not get over the fear that someone will come and pick my father or my brother up just because I reported their crimes. The psychological scars are invisible but that doesn't mean they aren't there," a TBS newsroom reporter told me. 

Conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and work-related stress are prevalent among journalists, yet they remain underreported. On World Mental Health Day, it's crucial to draw attention to the support systems needed for journalists, especially as more studies reveal how trauma affects them long-term.

'It's part of the job'

Journalism is often a dangerous profession, particularly for those covering conflicts and violence. War correspondents, photojournalists and reporters of violence are regularly exposed to extreme human suffering. Studies show that such exposure leads to higher rates of PTSD, anxiety, depression and even substance abuse among journalists.

Yet, despite the obvious emotional distress, many journalists hesitate to seek mental health support. This reluctance is tied to a deep-rooted culture in journalism where toughness is seen as part of the job. 

"It's just the nature of the work," said freelance journalist Shahnaz Munni,  "Journalists manage stress in their way but it takes a toll." Munni previously worked for a news TV channel.  

This belief—that stress is "part of the job"—has created a culture where psychological trauma is rarely acknowledged. Historically, journalists have been expected to maintain a façade of toughness, as though being affected by the events they report on compromises their professional integrity, resulting in the underreporting of their trauma. This leads many to suffer in silence.

"If a journalist admits to feeling stressed, people think they aren't fit for the job," Munni said. "We need to break that stigma. Seeking counselling doesn't mean you're weak or mentally unfit."

If mental health is left unaddressed, studies say long-term effects may emerge among journalists. 

This includes but is not limited to PTSD symptoms resulting in impaired occupational functioning (such as tardiness, missed deadlines and difficulty concentrating at work), according to the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, a project of Columbia Journalism School. 

"More notably, journalists may experience a strong reaction or set of reactions to covering harrowing events such as war, disasters and other human suffering. This is not necessarily a problem but simply a signal of the emotional challenges of news gathering, and a signal to practise self-care," according to a Dart Center factsheet. 

Professor Roufun Naher from Dhaka University's Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology said, "We can't control the outside world, but we can try to balance our lives."

The high-stakes sense of job insecurity

Job insecurity further compounds these mental health challenges. 

After news editor Khokon's death, his family revealed that he had been struggling with health issues and was reportedly worried about losing his job. The insecurity in the media sector means that journalists often work under constant pressure, and generally overwork in undefined work hours, to keep their positions.

"Unlike corporate or government jobs, the media sector offers less job security," said Professor Naher. Munni echoed these concerns, stating, "The fear of sudden job loss causes significant mental stress for journalists."

When journalists do experience depression or mental health issues, seeking support is vital. "It doesn't always have to be from a professional. Sometimes, simply talking to friends can help alleviate the burden," added Naher. 

Building a sense of community among fellow journalists is another important step. "Mutual interdependence with colleagues is essential," she explained, adding, "If one journalist is under pressure, their peers can support them. This sense of belonging to a community can greatly benefit mental health."

Another challenge journalists face is the rapidly changing nature of the job. The demands of modern journalism, with its emphasis on multimedia skills, have increased stress levels.

Naher points out that "Ten years ago, journalists didn't need to be as versatile. Now, they need to know how to write, present, edit videos and more. Keeping up with these demands takes a toll."

Organisations like the MRDI (Media Resources Development Initiative) are playing a vital role in tackling these challenges, particularly focusing on female journalists.

This initiative, part of the "Improving Qualitative Journalism in Bangladesh" project supported by the Fojo Media Institute of Sweden, started by training five women journalists to act as para-counsellors, one of whom is Shahnaz Munni. 

These counsellors received professional training from a psycho-counsellor and now serve as empathic listeners for their colleagues. And, if necessary, female journalists get referred to professional counsellors like Roufun Naher from Dhaka University. 

MRDI has committed to covering the cost of these professional sessions. "This initiative is timely because women journalists often endure multiple layers of stress, such as navigating a male-dominated industry," said Shahnaz Munni. 

The second phase of the MRDI initiative aims to expand its services to all genders.