The 60th training course for selected journalists across Africa has opened with a strong call for journalists to prioritise their wellness and mental health amid the tight demands of the profession.
The President of the Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Darlington Mwendabai, who made the call, said media practitioners have not been spared the consequences of mental health disorders and illnesses over the years, stressing that it was high time professionals paid attention to this aspect of their health to ensure optimum productivity. "We have been sharing stories about mental health issues without realising that we ourselves are also at risk.
There are many unhappy journalists-due to hostile newsroom environments, chronic stress, depression, insomnia, and lack of sleep-because you're sleeping late and waking up early to get the story to the people.
These challenges are pushing many practitioners into habits like alcoholism in an attempt to cope," he said. "We want to advocate that newsrooms prioritise the wellness and mental health of journalists so that as we tell the stories, we remain happy and stress-free individuals-capable of continuing our work tomorrow," the ZUJ president added.
