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Rosalynn Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Mental Health Fellows Help Communities Coping with COVID-19

  • Former First Lady Rosalynn Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà talks to fellows at Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo: Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ)

During the pandemic, Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Center fellows have reported on , the  at this time,  on staying mentally well,  and more.

+Read a Collection of Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Fellows’ COVID-19 Mental Health Reporting

Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Center mental health journalism fellows have been reporting on the mental health impact of COVID-19. Read some of their stories below.

 Hospitals are working hard to keep healthcare workers physically safe. But what about their psychological health? A story from Deborah Wang (’18-’19) for KUOW Public Radio in Seattle, with links to mental health and wellness resources for healthcare providers.  on KUOW’s Seattle Now podcast, too.

. Amna Al Haddad (’16-’17) writes for Entrepreneur.com Middle East that finding solutions amidst a crisis is a valuable skill and something to be respected.

. This 6-minute documentary from Melanie Saltzman (’19-’20) and Laura Fong for PBS NewsHour Weekend looks at how New Yorkers responded to animal shelters’ pleas to home pets amid the COVID-19 crisis. Turns out, fostering animals has emotional and physical benefits for the humans taking care of them, especially during self-isolation.

. Stephanie Foo (’19-’20) looks at your brain in survival mode, tips for grounding yourself, finding self control and long-term healing.

The National’s Assistant Editor-in-Chief Nick March, who runs the fellowships in the United Arab Emirates, calls for stakeholders and institutions to innovate and respond to student needs.

. How do you comfort the suffering when you’re not allowed in the room? Elizabeth Barber (’19-’20) writes for the New Yorker.

Deborah Wang (’18-’19) reports for KUOW Public Radio in Seattle.

. Andrea Petersen (’07-’08) offers tips in the Wall Street Journal.

. Rebecca Ruiz (’11-’12) talks to leading mental health organizations about how a broken system often leaves people one emergency away from a mental health care crisis.

. Katie Hawkins-Gaar is a member of the . She writes for CNN on safe ways that we can—and should—connect with our neighbors, friends and loved ones during this time.

. Thomas Curwen (’02-’03) reminds us in the Los Angeles Times that while the world is facing an unprecedented health crisis, there are reasons to be optimistic.

. Courtenay Harris Bond (’17-’18) reports for Billy Penn on how COVID-19 is impacting people experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia.

. Sarah Smith (’18-’19) reports for Houston Chronicle.

. Elizabeth Barber (’19-’20) with the New Yorker spends time with her father, supervisor of the town of Guilderland, as he mitigates the anxieties of thirty-six thousand people under his watch as more coronavirus cases are diagnosed.

 Times of upheaval are times of radical change. Some believe the pandemic is a once-in-a-generation chance to build a better future. Others, that it’ll make injustices worse. Peter C. Baker (’17-’18) reports for The Guardian.

 For L.A. Times, Brittny Mejia (’19-’20) talks to counselors on the front line and they share why they keep at it.

. Nick Webster (’19-’20) talks to mental health experts in the United Arab Emirates for The National newspaper about stemming stress during the pandemic.

. Nick Webster (’19-’20) covers this important development for The National newspaper.

. Nick Webster (’19-’20) writes about daily sessions with mental health experts being broadcast via the UAE’s National Programme for Happiness and Well-being’s social media channels.

. In HuffPost, two doctor’s share science-based coping strategies.

 In HuffPost, teenagers’ worlds have been rocked by COVID-19, and they’re being left out of conversations about mental health and stress.

, from  for Talkspace.

. In Vox, Covid-19 patients and those caring for them could be especially at risk for anxiety, depression, and other conditions.

. In Colorlines, the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, a non-profit combating mental health issues in the Black community, wants to reach those struggling with life changes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

s. Months-long isolation will take its toll on people’s mental health. CBC News’s  explores.

. Experiencing insomnia during the pandemic? Stress dreams? This expert advice is for you, from Jillian Wilson in HuffPo.

. HuffPost freelancer Stephanie Barnes explores the symptoms of both, how to handle anxiety and preventative measures worth taking.

. For The Hill, Opinion contributors former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, Kennedy Forum founder Patrick J. Kennedy, and American Psychological Association CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., Ph.D., write about what the federal government and state and local leaders can prioritize in their coordinated responses to ensure the health and well-being of Americans long after headlines about coronavirus have dissipated.

. In Mother Jones, Ben Bagdikian editorial fellow Will Peischel talks to mental health experts about common symptoms and how they’re addressing patient concerns.

Here are tips for coping. In Washington Post, psychologist Jelena Kecmanovic offers key tips for coping.

. From The Economist: Of the 5 stages of grief, humanity’s response to COVID-19 seemed stuck in the first 3: denial, anger and bargaining. March 16 may have been the day we moved onto the next stage: depression.

. In this article from Cox Media Group, experts say to remember the three R’s: Recognize, respond and ritualize.

 (Spanish). In El Especatador, journalist Daniela Quintero Díaz offers tips from a Colombian perspective.

+View Resources for Journalists

. In a session with the National Press Foundation, three mental health experts discuss the conditions that could lead to more suicides, recommendations for prevention and answered questions from reporters on how to cover the topic responsibly.

Working with people who are grieving requires sensitivity, but there are added considerations when interviewing people remotely who have been bereaved through coronavirus. BBC News reporter Jo Healey shares tips with The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma.

. The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma provides tips and tools to report safely and effectively during the coronavirus pandemic, updated regularly after 

. Cynthya Gluck, a College for Social Innovation Fellow at GroundTruth, talks to Mike Niconchuk, director of research and development at , about specific things journalists can do to ground themselves and manage the anxiety.

. Marissa Evans, social issues reporter at The Star Tribune and a 2016-2017 Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Center Mental Health Journalism Fellow, includes resources on ways to balance job demands with the uncertainty of a pandemic, working from home, mental health resources, managing children, relaxing your mind and body, and financial assistance.

. The Poynter Institute’s senior faculty member Al Tompkins and his wife Sidney Tompkins, a licensed psychotherapist, offer 9 ways journalists can push back against the stress of an always-on story. It includes a helpful video on managing newsroom stress and trauma.

. This downloadable tip sheet from the National Press Photographers’ Association offers guidance on covering critical stress incidents like COVID-19 and protecting yourself and your news crews, so they can effectively cover it, i.e. what to do immediately after a critical stress incident, how to handle the days after, and commonly reported reactions.

. The Dart Center has compiled English and Chinese-language resources for journalists covering COVID-19, including tips on interviewing victims and survivors, and working with colleagues exposed to traumatic events.

. Ethical Journalism Network Director Hannah Storm offers tips on responsible and ethical journalism while reporting on the pandemic, staying physically safe, and how to manage your mental health while covering the coronavirus.

. Journalists in the the  community and  worked together on this guide, which covers general information about the coronavirus and what to do if exposed; how to care for your physical and emotional health as you cover the pandemic; caring for others (colleagues, reporters, or freelancers); and tips for event planners.

. This guidance from the Global Investigative Journalism Network looks at before, during and after.

. Columbia Journalism Review Delacorte Fellow Lauren Harris encourages newsrooms to slow down, ask themselves what matters most, and be a calm guide for readers. It includes a compilation of important coronavirus reporting.

Review a recap of tips or view this International Journalists’ Network webinar with panelists , executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University and , Ph.D., co-author of ICFJ’s Disaster and Crisis Coverage guide, moderated by IJNet Editor, .

. Kari Cobham, senior associate director of Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ’s mental health journalism fellowships and media, provides a guide to self-care on Poynter.org.

 is hosting weekly webinars on mental health in both English and Spanish.

. We’re including this resource because so many journalists are experiencing lay-offs or furloughs and financial instability contributes to anxiety and other issues. This fund is for journalists who wish to cover COVID-19 within their own communities, with an emphasis on delivering news to under-served populations. Support ranges from $1,000–8,000 USD for local coverage of preparation, response, and impact of the pandemic through evidence-based reporting.

 is offering a free 60-minute webinar for businesses and organizations on how to manage stress and reduce isolation. Contact director of programs James Burns @ james(at)thekennedyforum(dot)org to schedule a training.

“Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Mental Health Program is committed to promoting mental health and well-being during the pandemic,” said Dr. Eve Byrd, program director.

“We’re disseminating reliable information that promotes the mental health of the general public, journalists, and vulnerable populations around the world, and also monitoring state and federal policy that affects people’s access to mental health care now and beyond,” Byrd added.

Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Mental Health Program also works closely with Cox Media Group and Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB-TV on on mental health and COVID-19, using the Rosalynn Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Mental Health Task Force’s wealth of knowledge.

About the Rosalynn Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Mental Health Journalism Fellowships

Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ’s Rosalynn Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism support a diverse cohort of journalists from Latin America, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and United States. Fellows are deeply committed to exploring some of society’s biggest mental health challenges.

The program was founded in 1996 by former First Lady Rosalynn Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà to give journalists the resources they need to report on mental health and help dismantle through storytelling the stigma that millions of people face every day.

Over the past two decades, more than 220 journalists from New Zealand, Romania, South Africa, and current participating countries have been awarded the highly competitive fellowships. Fellows work within their newsrooms and beyond to report on mental health challenges and transform their communities — and lives — in the process.

Journalists in the United Arab Emirates can apply for fellowships through The National . Journalists in Latin America can apply through Universidad de la Sabana and the GABO Foundation

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