Mental Health And Well-Being: X-Raying Media Practitioners’ Work-Related Stressors

By Patrick Wemambu

Navigating the precarity and overwork in the media world would reveal that almost all the practitioners in the industry experience some form of stress and trauma.

Indepth and empirical researches have shown that a mix of occupational, organizational and social hazards like depression, burnout fatigue, pressure to constantly chase stories towards meeting stringent deadlines, job insecurity coupled with low and irregular salaries, safety threats and state actors can predispose gentlemen of the press to mental health and well-being challenges.

Stay with me for some academic dimensions to the issue. Galderisi, S. H., et al (2015:14) define mental health as a dynamic state of internal equilibrium that enables individuals to use their abilities in harmony with the universal values of society.

In their award-winning treatise titled, ‘Toward a new definition of mental health: World Psychiatry,’ the intelligent egg-heads identified basic cognitive and social skills, ability to modulate individual emotions and empathize with others as important components of mental health.

Now, let us examine the concept of well-being. Writing on the subject, its definition and typology, Tchiki Davis, MA, PhD theorized; “Well-being, which is sometimes also referred to as psychosocial well-being, is defined in different ways depending on who you ask. Psychologists have tended to define well-being in one of two ways.

“First, it is thought to involve higher levels of positive emotions (and lower levels of negative emotions). Second, it is thought to include a general satisfaction with one’s life (Ryff & Keyes, 1995). Further research has extended these theories to suggest that well-being is actually a bit broader and includes 6 distinguishable characteristics.”

Enough of the technical jargons. Why do mental health and well-being matter? Mental health and well-being are important because they dictate how one thinks, feel and act. They provide the core resilience needed to cope with life’s stresses, build meaningful relationships and maintain sound physique. This is all geared towards performing productively at work.

You may not always notice it but your mental health has just as much of an impact on your well-being as your physical health. Or so Cleveland Clinic – nonprofit academic medical center based in Ohio, USA, thinks.

According to Dr. Adebayo Adetomiwa, a Lagos-based Consultant Cardiologist, sudden cardiac arrest which often leads to collapse can be triggered by untreated high blood pressure, irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) with other contributory factors like workplace stressors experienced in the media profession.

Regrettably, how a versatile and passionate female broadcast journalist working in a state-owned television station in south-west Nigeria slumped and died while preparing for her afternoon shift duty last year should still be fresh in our minds.

In a Special Report – Silent Struggle of Nigerian Reporters Amid Mental Health Challenges last year, Godwin Duru maintained that a journalist suffering a mental breakdown may misreport facts, exaggerate or suppress stories, or disengage entirely. He rued that when the press becomes compromised, the truth becomes endangered, and with it, democracy. Which speaks to the severity of the situation under review, requiring urgent attention.

At this juncture, it is auspicious to interrogate a pertinent question. What buffers the articulated risks? It has been recommended for Government to intervene to prioritize media welfare through legislation that enforces fair wages, mental health care and insurance coverage for all journalists. This is even as media organizations have been charged to commit to ethical treatment of their staff including access to counseling services and regular mental health checks.

Juxtaposed against the backdrop of this essay’s justification – activities marking the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, 2026 Press Week celebrations with events promoting the health and well-being of media professionals just wound up a few days ago in Abuja. This coincided with the commemoration of the 2026 World Communication Day.

Aside free medical outreach by the NUJ in collaboration with Nizamiye Hospital which involved general check-ups, eye screenings, blood pressure and sugar tests with consultations – there was a health walk. Basically, it was all about prioritizing mental health, well-being and stress management.

Speaking after the fitness exercise, NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike said theme for the health walk ‘Mental Health and Stress Management in High-Pressure Work Environments’ resonated with the every day experience of the average member of the fourth estate of the realm.

Hear her; “We all know the challenges of being journalists in Abuja. We work late into the night to break news. We face danger to report the truth. We deal with angry leaders, fake news, and tight deadlines. All this (these) builds (build) up stress that can make us tired, sad, or even sick. Our minds and bodies need care, just like our stories need facts. That is why this Health Walk matters so much. It is not just exercise. It is a way to clear our heads, build strength, and support each other.”

Talking about well-being activities directly benefiting mental health, Ike’s address aligns with the World Health Organization’s view of exercise and community engagement as public mental health tools. To the global health body, the goal is to build communities where walking, group activities and social connection are normal, safe, and accessible for everyone.

WHO’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (2018 – 2030) uses a systems approach with 4 objectives; “… Create active societies – social norms and attitudes that value activity… Create active environments – safe spaces, parks, walkable areas… Create active people – programs for all ages, in schools, workplaces, healthcare… Create active systems – coordination across sectors.”

Interestingly enough, the NUJ helmsman, Chairman Ike’s admonition to her members at the health walk was instructive; “As we walk together through the streets of Abuja, let’s share our worries, laugh, and plan better days. Simple steps like this can fight burnout and keep us sharp for the job we love. We must be alive for that story to be heard or read.

“To my fellow union members: Make mental health a habit. Take short breaks during work. Talk to a friend or counselor if stress feels too heavy. Drink water, sleep well, and join events like this. We will push our leaders and media houses to give us time off, counseling services, and safe workspaces.”