Mental Health: Ziauddin University holds workshop to strengthen journalists’ psychological resilience

Ziauddin University organized a Mental Health workshop for journalists and media professionals in Karachi on Monday, aiming to strengthen psychological resilience among reporters who routinely work under stressful, traumatic, and demanding conditions.

The workshop, titled “Protecting the Mind Behind the News: Building Psychological Resilience in Journalism,” was held in collaboration with the Karachi Editors Club. It highlighted the growing need to address mental well-being within the media industry and encouraged participants to adopt healthier coping strategies while covering challenging assignments.

Prof. Dr. Jamshed Ahmed, psychologist at Ziauddin University, led the session and shared practical techniques for managing stress, building emotional resilience, and maintaining psychological well-being in high-pressure work environments. He discussed the psychological impact of continuous exposure to crises, conflict, and demanding deadlines, while offering participants practical methods to improve emotional balance and professional performance.

Speaking at the event, Amir Shahzad, Head of Public Relations and Communications at Ziauddin University, said journalists play a vital role in informing society, often at significant personal cost. He said safeguarding their mental well-being is as important as enhancing their professional skills and added that the university hopes such initiatives will promote greater awareness and encourage a culture that values psychological health across the media community.

Karachi Editors Club President Mubasher Mir welcomed the initiative and said journalists regularly face intense workplace pressure. He stressed that open discussions on mental health are essential for building a healthier and more resilient media profession.

General Secretary of the Karachi Editors Club, Manzar Naqvi, also emphasized the importance of sustained awareness programmes that provide journalists with practical tools to manage workplace stress and emotional challenges effectively.

The workshop concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, allowing participants to discuss their experiences directly with the expert. Prof. Dr. Jamshed Ahmed later distributed certificates among those who attended the programme.