Journalism and Mental Health: Ugandan Journalists’ Perspectives

Abstract

In the midst of a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, journalists play an important role of sharing information of consequence with the public. As first responders to precarious events, they work in close proximity to the threat they are reporting on yet at the same time struggle with other personal and professional responsibilities which are strenuous on their mental health. This chapter qualitatively interrogated journalists in order to understand their experiences with mental health during COVID-19 and how they worked through personal and social acceptability, biases and stigma as well as diagnosis. Of importance as well was to understand how they disclose, if they disclose at all, mental health issues and the different copying mechanisms. Findings show that journalists have a textbook but not applicable understanding of mental health, declaring that they many of them have experienced mental disorders without knowing. The consequences of COVID-19 measures such as layoffs, increased workload, inconsiderate media houses, brutality from law enforcement agencies were key contributors to mental health stresses. Journalists with supportive families seemed to have coped better while some buried themselves in multiple jobs to circumvent the stress that comes with financial privation.

Citation

Napakol, A., Kazibwe, S., Mugunga, A., Kitego, E., Ahimbisibwe, O. and Kiva, J. (2022), "Journalism and Mental Health: Ugandan Journalists’ Perspectives", Dralega, C.A. and Napakol, A. (Ed.) COVID-19 and the Media in Sub-Saharan Africa: Media Viability, Framing and Health Communication, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 147-162. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-271-620221010