African journalists must prioritise mental health, wellness - Darlington Mwendabai

The 60th training course for African journalists has begun.

A strong call was made for journalists to focus on their wellness and mental health.

Darlington Mwendabai, President of the Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), emphasized this need. He noted that media professionals face mental health challenges. It is crucial for them to pay attention to their well-being.

Mwendabai stated, “We share stories about mental health issues. Yet, we often overlook our own risks.” Many journalists are unhappy due to stressful newsroom environments. Chronic stress, depression, and insomnia affect their lives. They often sleep late and wake up early to meet deadlines.

These pressures can lead some journalists to unhealthy coping habits like alcoholism. Mwendabai urged newsrooms to prioritize the wellness of their staff. He believes happy and healthy journalists can tell better stories. This will help them continue their important work in the future.