E28 Why Newsrooms Need Mental Health First Aid Now

Why Newsrooms Need Mental Health First Aid Now

Welcome toThe Compassionate Newsroom! In this first episode of our three-part series onMental Health First Aid, Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon shares why this life-changing training is a must-have in journalism today.

From breaking news to burnout, journalists face extraordinary levels of stress, trauma, and emotional exposure—yet few are trained to recognize when colleagues are in crisis or how to respond. This episode dives into the urgent need for psychological safety in the newsroom and introduces the tools that can help change that.

Dr. Kortni, a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor and happiness scholar, also shares her own journey into MHFA training and how it connects to her mission of workplace well-being through positive psychology.

🔗 Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

• 🌿Learn more about Mental Health First Aidand upcoming certification opportunities through the KALM Institute for Workplace Wellbeing:
  👉https://www.kalminstitute.org/

• 📰Read the article:
  “Why Newsrooms Should Champion Mental Health First Aid”by Sandra E. Martin, published by the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma:
  👉Read the articlehere

💬 Episode Highlights:

• Why Mental Health First Aid is the “CPR for mental health”

• The role of journalists as first responders to trauma—and how to protect their well-being

• How newsrooms like the BBC andThe Globe and Mailare leading the way

• The connection between MHFA and positive psychology principles in journalism

• A preview of what’s coming in Episode 29: The ALGEE action plan

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a colleague or newsroom leader. Let’s make mental health part of the conversation—and the culture. 🧠💚

#MentalHealthFirstAid