Kaduna NUJ, AMDF Train Journalists On Mental Health

 NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, in partnership with the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF), on Friday organized a training workshop on mental Health for Journalists in Kaduna.

In his remarks, the NUJ State Council Chairman, Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe, represented by the Council Secretary, Comrade Gambo Santos Sanga, said the initiative was an investment in the total well-being of journalists who are often exposed to distressing and traumatic events in the line of duty.

He pointed out that in the bid to break the news and keep the public informed, journalists frequently witness grisly accident scenes, insurgency attacks, and violent crimes, or interview victims of tragedies experiences that leave deep emotional scars.

“This is why today’s training is not just another workshop, but a deliberate effort to help us recognise signs of stress, trauma and burnout, and to learn coping mechanisms that will enable us to remain resilient and balanced.”

Alabelewe commended AMDF for being a steadfast partner to the Kaduna NUJ over the years, supporting capacity-building programmes that have ranged from investigative journalism to fact-checking and now mental health.

Similarly, the Executive Director of AMDF, Mrs. Sekyen Dadik, said the foundation placed premium on the well-being of journalists, noting that the idea for the training was sparked by strong interest shown during a mental health session at the 2024 Africa Conference on Development Journalism.

“This is a project dear to my heart. As we acknowledge the critical role journalists play in shaping society, we must also recognize the unique challenges they face, which can impact their mental health,” she said.

Dadik expressed appreciation to the NUJ Kaduna Council for its willingness to collaborate, and singled out the resource person, Dr. Sanni Kamaldeen, for his commitment to promoting mental well-being among journalists.

The guest speaker, , a specialist psychiatrist, Dr. Kamaldeen urged journalists to pay close attention to signs of stress, anxiety and emotional exhaustion, stressing that mental health was just as important as physical health. 

He challenged media professionals to break the culture of silence around psychological struggles and seek help when necessary, assuring that timely interventions could prevent more serious complications.

The participants commended the initiative as timely and apt, considering the increasingly hostile and traumatic environments journalists are confronted with in the course big their reportage.