by Mynul Hasan Sohel, Contributor, Pressenza Dhaka Bureau

 

For the first time in Bangladesh, the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has launched ‘Khola Janala’ (Open Window), a regular and free mental health service to help journalists cope with professional mental stress.

The ‘Khola Janala’ program was formally inaugurated on Tuesday (July 29) at an event held at the DRU’s Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium.

As part of the initiative, confidential, professional, and respectful mental health services will be provided to member journalists at the DRU premises every fifteen days by psychologists and psychiatrists. These services will be offered free of charge by trained and experienced professionals from ‘Moner Bondhu,’ an international standard mental health service provider.

The event, presided over by DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and moderated by General Secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel, had Md. Saidur Rahman, Secretary of the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as the chief guest. Special guests included Kazi Rumana Haque, Head of Mental Health Program and Lead Psychologist at ‘Moner Bondhu,’ and Dr. Jamil Ahmed, Executive Director of School of Leadership and a media personality. Joint Secretary Nadia Sharmeen presented the keynote paper.

Speaking at the event is Md. Saidur Rahman, Secretary of the Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The paper highlighted that the mental stability of field journalists is being severely affected by the horror of death, as seen in the ‘Milestone Tragedy,’ and the pressure of public anger and harassment from opposing parties towards the media. Journalists’ mental stress has significantly increased due to working amidst the tumultuous situation of the July 2024 mass uprising and subsequent conflicts, along with personal insecurity. After covering continuous news of clashes, violence, and disasters, including scenes of child deaths, horrific events, disappearances, or post-mortem reports, journalists are experiencing trauma and psychological harm. This anxiety and trauma are further exacerbated by political, group, and social pressures and persecution.

Additionally, journalists are facing trauma and mental harm due to pressures related to losing assets and relationships when revealing the truth, legal, workplace ownership, and personal relationship pressures, online threats, harassment, and trolling (especially for female journalists), workplace insecurity, uncertainty of salaries, long working hours, social and family isolation, and insecurity leading to mental complications.

Despite this, there is a severe lack of professional mental healthcare and support for journalists in Bangladesh. Training for journalists on trauma reporting or mental health risks is almost non-existent. There is also little research on journalists’ mental health and situation. Moreover, no media outlet provides mental health services or counseling. Due to mental breakdowns among journalists in Bangladesh, at least 3 journalists have committed suicide in the capital alone in the last 5 years. This situation is even more dire across the country. Mental depression, professional and financial crises, lack of support and mutual exchange in personal life, and complex relationships play major roles. Furthermore, many who did not commit suicide have died or are still suffering from various diseases like stroke and heart attack due to mental depression and trauma.

Therefore, the DRU’s initiative in journalists’ mental health aims to ensure their mental well-being, provide support in coping with problems like trauma, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, maintain professional excellence, restore mental stability, and enhance mental strength to face any situation and move forward, as stated by the organizing authorities. They said, “We journalists become the voice of others, but our own voices are suppressed amidst our mental battles. This initiative today is not just a service but a message to dispel the darkness under this lamp.”

Former DRU presidents Shakhawat Hossain Badsha and Mursalin Nomani, current executive committee Vice-President Gazi Anowar, and Organizing Secretary Abdul Hai Tuhin also spoke at the event. Senior Reporter of Boishakhi TV and former DRU office secretary Mehdi Azad Masum, Senior Reporter of Dainik Sangram Nasir Uddin Shoaib, and Senior Reporter of News 24 Rishad Hasan shared their experiences of covering the July mass uprising and the Milestone Tragedy on behalf of the journalists.

Health Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman stated, “Many students and guardians are behaving abnormally after the Milestone Tragedy. We need to reach out to students, guardians, journalists, and everyone who is traumatized. There is no scope for concealing bodies. Everyone will stand by each other. Everyone’s cooperation is crucial to build the desired country.” He also emphasized the necessity of journalists being physically and mentally healthy for intellectual pursuits. Health Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman praised the DRU’s initiative and mentioned that the Ministry of Health would stand by to ensure healthcare for journalists.

DRU President Abu Saleh Akon said, “Journalists must shake off all their sorrows, fears, and problems like a duck. They must believe in prevention rather than cure. The work environment must be restored through unity in every workplace.”

General Secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel stated that this event is part of a year-long health service program. Earlier, free Hepatitis-B virus vaccinations were provided. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DRU was the first private organization in Bangladesh to establish a COVID booth and has continued to operate various health service camps, including dental, diabetes, gynecology, medicine, kidney, and liver services. He also expressed hope of establishing a health corner soon, ambulance service for emergency care, cervical cancer vaccines for female members and their children, and pneumonia vaccines for members.

Md. Mujibur Rahman, Sports Secretary of the DRU Executive Committee, Mohammad Salim Ullah (Mezbah), Hospitality Secretary, Rafiq Mridha, Welfare Secretary, and Executive Member Sumon Chowdhury, along with other members, were present at the event.

The Author:

Mynul Hasan Sohel. Contributor, Pressenza Dhaka Bureau.