In Bangladesh, women journalists face many challenges that can impact their mental health and well-being, such as sexual abuse, social stigma and exposure to violence, disaster and tragedy. To address these issues, MRDI, in partnership with Fojo Media Institute, is capacitating a group of women journalists to act as para-counsellors, helping to promote gender equality and support the mental health of women journalists.
“Our initiative of recognising and offering mental health support to women journalists by creating a safe space for them to seek support, has been instrumental in breaking the silence around this issue,” says Nadia Sarwat Tarannum, senior programme officer at Fojo’s partner organisation, Media and Resources Initiative (MRDI) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Women journalists, just as their male counterpart, may be exposed to traumatic events, violence and human suffering while covering news stories. Witnessing distressing situations can take a toll on their mental health, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Understanding and addressing these issues can help ensure the well-being of journalists, enhance their productivity, and foster a more inclusive and supportive work environment.
Recognising the importance of addressing the mental health needs of women journalists in Bangladesh, MRDI, with the support of Fojo, took the initiative to provide essential mental health support, resources and a safe space for women journalists to address the challenges they face.
Five women, themselves with a background in journalism, were selected to participate in a training where they learned about stress management, coping strategies and self-care. The women were trained to act as a peer support group and an initial mental health support system for women journalists.
By providing a safe space for women journalists to share their experiences, connect with peers, and seek support, MRDI’s initiative aims to break the silence surrounding mental health issues in the Bangladesh journalism community. It seeks to build a network of para-counsellors who can provide ongoing support to women journalists in need, while at the same time addressing the issue head on, reducing stress and creating a more enabling environment for women journalists.
The initiative will also enable the women journalists to practice “Trauma informed journalism”, which is an approach recognising that trauma is common and that people may have experienced serious trauma at some point in their lives. For journalists, it means understanding on the one hand what a trauma survivor is experiencing and how your actions as a journalist will impact them, and on the other hand, how covering traumatic events or violence can affect their own mental health. The video is a short documentary about the project, created by MRDI.
