Aminu Ibrahim Shehu, a consultant psychiatrist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), has recommended a review of the curriculum of journalism training institutions in Nigeria to incorporate trauma journalism.
He also cautioned Nigerian journalists to take deliberate mental-health precautions as they continue to work under intense deadline pressure, fast-paced news cycles and emotionally demanding assignments.
Shehu made the suggestions on Saturday while delivering a paper at the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel 2025 Retreat, organised with the support of the Kano State Government and held in Kaduna.
He said journalists face unique psychosocial risks due to the nature of their work, stressing that unmanaged stress could lead to burnout, anxiety disorders, depression and other psychiatric challenges.
According to him, the growing competition within newsrooms, pressure to break stories, toxic online environments, and constant exposure to traumatic events place journalists among the most vulnerable professional groups.
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“Deadline pressure has become a significant mental-health concern in Nigerian newsrooms. Many journalists work for long hours, under tight timelines, and with limited control over the pace of events. This constant pressure can overwhelm the brain, impair judgment, and trigger psychiatric symptoms,” Shehu stated.
He advised journalists to pay close attention to early warning signs such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, emotional exhaustion, sleep disturbance, and feelings of panic or helplessness, noting that these symptoms should not be ignored.
Shehu outlined several precautions to help journalists cope better, including breaking tasks into manageable segments, planning ahead to reduce last-minute rush, taking short breaks during production, and minimising overstimulation from social media or excessive caffeine.
He also urged reporters and editors to seek support from colleagues, supervisors, or mental-health professionals whenever workload becomes overwhelming.
“It is not a weakness for journalists to admit they are under psychological strain. Early intervention protects mental function, prevents burnout, and ultimately improves the quality of journalism,” he said.
The psychiatrist emphasised the need for Nigerian media organisations to establish mental-health support systems for their staff, such as trauma debriefings, workload rotation, and access to counseling services, especially for reporters covering crime, conflict, disasters, and other high-stress beats.
He called for a shift in newsroom culture, stressing that healthier journalists produce more accurate, ethical, and impactful reporting.
“Newsrooms must understand that mental wellbeing is integral to professionalism. When journalists collapse under pressure, society suffers because the quality of information suffers,” Shehu added.
Shehu encouraged journalists who experience persistent anxiety, depression, panic attacks, or trauma symptoms to seek professional care without stigma, warning that untreated mental-health conditions could escalate into more severe disorders.
He urged media practitioners to prioritise rest, hydration, healthy eating, and post-deadline recovery, describing these as simple but powerful tools for sustaining long-term mental resilience.
The call comes amid growing concern about stress-related health challenges in Nigeria’s media industry, where many reporters juggle multiple beats, irregular pay, safety risks, and a fast-moving digital landscape.
