PESHAWAR: Speakers at a discussion here on Monday advised journalists to seek treatment of mental problems by psychological means to perform duty efficiently and lead life happily.
The discussion was organised jointly by the University of Peshawar’s journalism and mass communication and psychology departments at Peshawar Press Club. Professor Altafullah Khan, chairman of the UoP journalism and mass communication department, presided over the event.
Chairperson of the UoP’s psychology department Professor Irum Irshad explained the psychological trauma, its causes and its preventive measures.
Khyber Union of Journalists president Nisar Mehmood and Peshawar Press Club president Nasir Hussain also spoke on the occasion and talked about the problems faced by journalists at work. A large number of journalists took part in the discussion over their mental and emotional problems.
The discussion was part of the activities that the UoP is jointly organising with journalists for smooth functioning of the competence and trauma centre established at the psychology department with the support of DW Academie, Germany.
The participants agreed that psychological problems of journalists working in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata during three decades or more had increased manifold. They said it was high time that such problems should be realised and addressed on urgent basis.
Competence and trauma centre set up for media persons
Professor Altafullah Khan said the competence and trauma centre established at the UoP would provide all-out services to the working journalists of the region in identifying and resolving their problems by psychotherapy. He said the facility would be provided free services to journalists working in the war zones and thus facing numerous psychological traumas.
Earlier, Professor Irum said journalists complained about anxiety for several reasons, including low salary or delay in its payment, high inflation and insecurity, and that if they did not contact psychologists on time, anxiety became depression and turned into worst conditions. “Anxiety adversely impacts not only on journalists but also on their families,” she said.
Professor Irum said she was concerned about the journalists not seeking treatment of anxiety despite it being free.
“Before trauma increases, journalists should approach the CTCJ for treatment,” she said.
She said journalists in their mundane activities experienced traumas and personal worries and that their general therapy included eight to 12 sessions.
Dr Altaf Khan elaborating on the aims and objectives of the CTCJ said it was the need of the hour to work for the treatment of journalists suffering from psychological trauma while covering drone attacks, bomb blasts and other catastrophes.
“Reporting from the war zones has affected their (journalists) lives both bodily and psychologically but unfortunately, no attention has been given to this problem in the past,” he said.
The journalists appreciated the establishment of CTCJ and assured their cooperation and assistance for its smooth functioning. They praised the UoP over the initiative.
Published in Dawn December 16th , 2014