PASSION OR BURNOUT? Mental Health Toll On Young Journalists

By: Natasha Mwake

Should young journalists-the future of media -have to choose between their passion for storytelling and their mental health?

Many enter the newsroom full of energy, driven by a deep desire to uncover the truth, break news and make headlines. But for many, that passion quickly turns into exhaustion, anxiety and trauma. It's a crisis that remains largely ignored, yet it is steadily chipping away at the well-being of the very people who bring us news.

Robert Mathangani, a 24-year-old journalist at a local radio station and digital news platform, knows this reality all too well. His day starts at dawn—investigating, gathering, and writing news reports—and often stretches deep into the night.

"Breaking stories don’t wait, and neither do my editors," he says. "The competition among fellow journalists, the pressure to meet deadlines—there’s no time to process what I’m witnessing."

Robert’s experience is far from unique. Many young journalists find themselves caught in a cycle of relentless pressure, chasing stories while ignoring their own well-being. They report on suffering, tragedy, and crisis, yet they rarely have the space to acknowledge how these experiences affect them.

Ignoring the problem doesn’t make it disappear. Research shows that journalists—especially those covering conflict, crime, and disasters—are highly susceptible to anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Despite this, mental health remains a taboo subject in many newsrooms. Young reporters quickly learn an unwritten rule: Stress is part of the job. If you can’t handle it, maybe you don’t belong here.

"We tell everyone else’s stories, but no one asks about ours," Robert adds.

For many, journalism is more than just a career—it’s a battlefield. Every day is a fight for physical, mental, and emotional survival. The pressure to constantly deliver, the fear of missing a story, the expectation to be ‘tough enough’—it all builds up, often with devastating consequences.

Dr. Monica Buyatsi Oundo, a lecturer and psychologist at Chuka University, has worked closely with journalists over the years. She warns that the culture of silence around mental health in the industry is dangerous.

"Journalists witness the most traumatic events in society firsthand, yet they are expected to be immune to it," she explains. "But they are human, just like the people they report on. They need protection, too."

So, what can be done? The industry must change. If media organizations truly care about sustaining their workforce, they need to prioritize mental well-being alongside professional excellence.

Newsrooms should introduce mental health days, provide access to therapy, and create peer support programs. More importantly, there needs to be a shift in newsroom culture—seeking help should be seen as a sign of strength, not weakness.

It’s time to break the silence. Young journalists shouldn’t have to choose between their passion and their well-being. Journalism needs its storytellers—but more importantly, it needs them to be whole.