The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has called on media institutions to prioritise the mental health of journalists and media practitioners as a professional and ethical responsibility.
Speaking during the session, Director for Media Training and Development Victor Bwire noted that journalists often cope with stress in unhealthy ways that hinder their productivity.
“Journalists are walking time bombs. There is a need for journalists to develop mechanisms to manage their stress and create space for proper debriefs,” Bwire noted.
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He added that journalists experiencing stress often display warning signs indicating an underlying problem, underscoring the need for timely intervention before the situation escalates.
“Each one of us has stress triggers. Research indicates that some of the signs include lack of sleep, substance abuse, and eating disorders,” he said.
MCK Assistant Director Christine Nguku echoed these sentiments, saying the mental health of journalists cannot continue to be overlooked.
“We cannot continue to ignore the mental health of the people who tell our stories. Journalists absorb the pain of the communities they cover, and without proper support, that burden becomes unbearable,” she said.
Basic Needs Basic Rights Communications, Advocacy and Project Officer Eugene Wanekeya emphasised the need for a strong partnership with the media to reach wider audiences on mental health.
He noted that nine out of ten people living with mental health issues say the media plays an important role in reducing stigma.
In Kenya, where mental health remains widely underdiscussed and underreported, the media’s role in normalising these conversations is particularly critical.
“Approximately one in four Kenyans is experiencing a mental health disorder, with five to ten million people experiencing conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse,” he stressed.
Wanekeya noted that while the media holds significant power to shape public perception on mental health, it generally prioritises stories that are immediate, visual, and dramatic, which can make subtle or long-term issues like mental health harder to cover.
He called on journalists to be more deliberate in amplifying voices on mental health and in reporting that humanises those living with mental health conditions, rather than reinforcing stereotypes.
TikTok East Africa Communication Lead Pereruan Kenana said the platform has invested in community safety through its community guidelines, urging journalists to familiarise themselves with the guidelines as violations could result in content being taken down.
“TikTok has a wellbeing mission badge and Sub-Saharan digital wellbeing ambassadors, who are medical professionals advocating mental wellness and encouraging users to maintain positivity on the platform,” she said.
Aga Khan University’s Prof. Nyabuga highlighted challenges faced in newsrooms, including poor pay, exposure to trauma, and poor work-life balance, describing these as systemic issues that contribute to deteriorating mental health among media practitioners.
“Addressing these challenges requires deliberate institutional action, not just individual coping strategies. Media organisations need to prioritise the mental health of their staff as a professional and ethical responsibility,” he stressed.
The Council, in partnership with Basic Needs Basic Rights, Aga Khan University, and TikTok, underscored the importance of mental health as a critical pillar of overall well-being, noting that journalists and media practitioners are routinely exposed to stress, trauma, and burnout in the course of their work.
The master class underscored the urgent need for structured mental health support within media institutions and the role that training, partnerships, and open dialogue can play in building a more resilient and mentally healthy media industry.
-This story was first published by MCK
