<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yacine Ba<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While journalists have to uncover the truth and report on what the public needs to know, they also have to cover many disturbing events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
August is National Wellness Month and the National Association of Black Journalists is making efforts to ensure journalists know how to stay mentally healthy during traumatic situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh Brown, photojournalist for Zuma wire, has first-hand experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have covered a few protests before. One in particular was pro-Palestine protests within the past few years that got pretty agitated with one of the counterprotesters and the police,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brown advises journalists to \u201cbe prepared for whatever could happen, [because] you never know what people’s intentions are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Brandon Gillespie, a licensed therapist and psychology professor, emphasized the importance of journalists being aware of their physical health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen you’re feeling stressed, when you’re feeling burnout, really take notice and then do something about it. The things that you can do about it: get help, seek support [from] friends, family, professionals. Also self-care, going outside, taking walks, getting plenty of sleep, getting plenty of rest, and eating well,\u201d Gillespie said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn Angelique Roberts is the co-chair of NABJ\u2019s Wellness Task Force which fosters environments for journalists to make wellness and mental health a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe bring in professionals, we meet virtually, and we bring in experts to speak about anything that journalists are going to have going on in the newsroom,\u201d Roberts said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt’s okay not to be okay. It’s okay to seek a therapist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n