Mental Health Crisis Looms Over Journalism AKTH Expert Cautions

By Ladan Nasidi,Kano

A Consultant Psychiatrist at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Shehu, has raised concern over the growing impact of stress and mental health disorders on the journalism profession in Nigeria and across the globe.

Dr. Shehu issued the warning while presenting a paper titled “Pressure Amid Deadline: Psychiatric/Mental Health Precautions” at the 2025 Retreat of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). The retreat, themed “Emerging Trends in Journalism: Impact of AI, News Sources & Digital-Driven Newsroom in Modern Journalism; Task Before Journalists,” is ongoing at the Pyramid Hotel in Kaduna.

He stated that the fast-paced and high-pressure environment in which journalists operate has exposed many of them to chronic stress, trauma, depression and other psychological disorders.

“Journalists experience significant pressure to meet deadlines and break the news. Stress is always around us; the only place free from stress is the graveyard,” he said.

Dr. Shehu noted that reporters often witness disturbing and traumatic events first-hand, which can gradually affect their mental stability. He compared journalists to military personnel who frequently encounter tragic scenes, making them particularly vulnerable to trauma-related conditions.

The psychiatrist warned that failure to prioritize mental health could lead to increased cases of depression, suicide and stress-induced illnesses within the profession.

He urged journalists to seek medical and emotional support when overwhelmed, adopt healthier work routines, identify early signs of stress and give priority to adequate rest and sleep.

Dr. Shehu also cited real-life cases of journalists who died by suicide or suffered severe mental breakdowns due to untreated depression, stressing the need for media professionals to treat psychological wellbeing with the same seriousness as physical health.