The Hidden Trauma: Mental Health and Safety Challenges Facing Journalists in Kenya
The safety and protection of journalists and media practitioners, physical, digital, and psychological, is becoming a critical issue in discussions on press freedom and performance in Kenya. This goes beyond labour and occupational health rights; it also concerns the fundamental human rights of this group.
It is incomplete to talk about the rights and welfare of journalists without addressing their mental health, given the risks and exposure to danger that come with their work. Highly stressed journalists and media practitioners are at risk of passing on their trauma to the country through the news they cover and present.
In recent years, a number of journalists have been dispatched to report from frontlines, while others, even those working in offices, are regularly exposed to disturbing photos and videos. Combined with stressful working conditions, this takes a heavy toll on their mental and social well-being. Journalists, media practitioners, and creatives in the media are often exposed to vicarious trauma by covering attacks and reviewing images of traumatic events. This exposure is likely to affect both their personal welfare and professional performance.
To address these safety concerns, some media houses have taken positive steps. They have established safety focal points and strategies, purchased insurance covers for reporters, secured bulletproof vests and helmets, and, in extreme cases, embedded journalists with security forces. However, other aspects of safety, particularly mental health, remain neglected.
The strides made in physical protection must be supplemented with trauma and mental health strategies. These should include psychological counseling sessions to equip journalists with the skills needed to handle themselves when covering traumatic stories. Such initiatives would enhance the physical and psychological safety, health, and well-being of journalists, thereby promoting responsible and responsive journalism. Counseling sessions would also help journalists overcome trauma, process the effects of their experiences, and manage any symptoms that arise from their work in the field.
The sight of dead bodies, injured colleagues, and groaning survivors leaves deep emotional scars on journalists. Many narrowly escape bullets or injuries. While the sight of death is frightening at first, repeated exposure often makes it seem normal. Journalists also face stress from layoffs, shrinking revenues, and the struggle to meet basic needs like rent, food, and healthcare. Some have even been directly infected by diseases in the course of their work.
As a result, many journalists display anger, frustration, despair, absent-mindedness, anxiety, bitterness, and feelings of neglect by their employers or support organizations such as the Media Council of Kenya. In media-related social groups, such traits are easy to notice. Several journalists report experiencing flashbacks when they hear sounds like tire bursts, smell roasted meat, or witness events that remind them of their traumatic experiences.
This sense of neglect often results in a “don’t-care” attitude when handling stories. Journalists may disregard legal or ethical implications, leading to workplace sanctions or costly lawsuits for their employers.
Health experts have warned that failure to address these issues may lead to burnout and, ultimately, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Once this happens, productivity drops, psychological suffering increases, and many affected journalists lose their jobs.
In response to stress, some turn to alcohol and drug abuse, multiple sexual relationships, seclusion, or lashing out at colleagues and bosses, all of which harm young and upcoming professionals. High turnover rates in the media industry are strongly linked to these stress factors.
