Amman — ARIJ hosted a webinar introducing its specialized program, “Peer-to-Peer Support for Arab Media Organizations,” with 31 participants joining live, 52% of whom were females, from media and fact-checking institutions across the Arab region.

Led by Saja Mortada,  Arab Fact-Checkers Network Manager, alongside Executive Editors  Ethar Azem and Ibrahim Hamadah , the session highlighted the growing psychological toll of journalism and the urgent need to integrate mental health support into Arab newsrooms.

The program introduces a peer-to-peer support model tailored to media institutions. It empowers selected team members to provide confidential assistance to their colleagues, fostering a safe and supportive internal culture. While it does not replace professional therapy, the model complements it by integrating care into the everyday fabric of media workplaces.

What is ARIJ’s “Mental Health Support for Media Institutions” Program?

It is a specialized training program designed for Arab media and fact-checking institutions that:

• Focuses on building an internal mental health support system.
• It is tailored individually for each institution.
• It is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

Why is this program important?

It aims to:

• Introduce a new concept to the Arab region.
• Address the daily stressors faced by professionals in this demanding field.
• Help identify the right individuals within institutions to provide internal support.
• Integrate mental health support effectively into the workplace.
• Develop internal plans to promote psychological well-being among team members.

Forms of psychological support included in the program:

• Psychological first aid to handle potential trauma and reduce the immediate psychological impact.
• Encouragement of positive coping strategies and socio-psychological support.
• Creation of safe spaces for expressing emotions related to stress and trauma.
• Contribution to building a healthy, safe, and comfortable work environment.
• Guiding how to support colleagues in coping with trauma and increasing psychological resilience.

📩 Interested in joining the program? Learn more and register via https://arij.net/news/psychological-support/