The Mental Health Toll of Journalism: Uncovering the Dark Side Behind the Headlines

While June is recognized as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a crisis of the mind simmers year-round in one of society’s most demanding professions. For journalists, mental health is not a monthly theme but a daily battle fought on the frontlines of human experience. They are our society's watchdogs, but the profound emotional and psychological burdens they carry often go dangerously unacknowledged.

Behind the confident bylines and broadcast voices are individuals who witness humanity at its worst; massacres, fires, fatal accidents, and systemic injustice. They report on these stories not from a safe distance, but from the heart of the chaos. The trauma they absorb can fester quietly, unprocessed, and unnoticed, until it spills over into their work, relationships and personal lives, leaving many as hallowed-out versions of their former selves.

The statistics paint a grim picture. According to the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, a staggering 80% of journalists report experiencing emotional exhaustion directly related to their work. A separate study published in PLOS One found that two-thirds of journalists covering graphic or distressing events suffer negative mental health effects, impacting both their well-being and their professional output.

A Story of Scars: Emily Kaiga's Turning Point

At a journalism symposium hosted by the Technical University of Kenya in Nairobi, Emily Kaiga, a Program Officer at the Kenya Editors Guild, shared a story that silenced the room. She shed light on a side of the industry that newcomers are rarely warned about: the psychological cost. Early in her career, Kaiga was sent to cover the horrific Kyanguli Boys Secondary School fire. When she arrived, there was no official victim count. Her first task was to count the charred skulls among the remains to establish a death toll. That same month, she covered three other tragedies. The cumulative trauma became unbearable. "I couldn't sleep, I couldn't be alone at night," she recalled. "Every time I closed my eyes, the gruesome images returned." It was a breaking point. To save herself, she shifted to business reporting—a beat she found more structured and emotionally manageable.

The Weight of a Crisis: The Tragedy of Nasibo Kabale

The story of Nasibo Kabale, once celebrated as a “COVID heroine” for her relentless pandemic coverage at Nation Media Group, serves as a harrowing cautionary tale. Retained after a round of newsroom layoffs, she bore witness to death and despair on a daily basis. The pressure was immense, the toll inescapable.Though she eventually sought medical help, the emotional damage was profound. She left her prestigious job to protect her well-being, but her story took a tragic turn, leading to homelessness. Kabale’s experience underscores how even professional success in journalism can be built on a fragile psychological foundation.

 Systemic Failures and Unseen Pressures

Individual stories of trauma are symptomatic of a larger, systemic problem. While organizations like the Media Council of Kenya have introduced wellness initiatives, they often clash with the harsh realities of the industry: low wages, inadequate insurance, and relentless economic pressure to perform. This environment can push journalists toward unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Take Kimani Mbugua, a once-rising media star who has openly shared his struggles with mental health and substance use. He described journalism as a paradox: "You are surrounded by people, yet internally, you are completely isolated." For him, marijuana became a temporary escape from his inner battles, a stark illustration of how the industry’s gaps can drive its own to the edge.

The danger doesn't only come from the stories they cover. Journalists increasingly face harassment from their sources, their colleagues, and the public. A single perceived mistake can ignite a digital firestorm of abuse, stripping away their humanity in the name of “accountability.” The public often forgets that behind the byline is a person who is fallible and vulnerable.

A Call for a New Culture

Change is urgently needed, but there are hopeful signs. The conversation around mental health is slowly being destigmatized. To move forward, a multi-pronged approach is essential.

Newsrooms must move beyond token gestures and build genuine systems of support. This includes providing trauma-informed training, affordable and confidential mental healthcare, and fostering a culture where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness. Organizations like the Kenya Editors Guild, in partnership with groups like Thalia Psychotherapy, are leading the way with mental health clinics and workshops.

However, the industry cannot do it alone. The public must cultivate empathy for the people who bring them the news. Finally, journalists themselves must be empowered to prioritize their well-being. The journey to mental wellness begins with the self—with the courage to acknowledge the darkness and the understanding that it is always okay not to be okay. This is not just a job; for many, it's a calling. It should not demand their sanity as the price of admission.