On March 23, the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) gathered a small group of journalists for a mental wellness session at The Olive Prime Psychology Services Centre (TOPS), Abuja.
In recognition of the peculiarity of the journalists’ job and the effects it can have on their mental health, PTCIJ partnered with TOPS, a psychiatric health facility based in Abuja, to provide psychological support and counselling for journalists in the area.
This initiative followed advocacy for improved welfare of journalists in Nigeria. The initiative has its roots in the 2017 ‘No News Is Bad News’ programme organised by Free Press Unlimited (FPU) in collaboration with PTCIJ.
The programme birthed the Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF), a collaboration of investigative newsrooms and civil society organisations working on Whistleblower Protection and Press Freedom in Nigeria.
This initiative commenced in October 2018 as part of the Journalists’ Welfare programme for the Coalition of Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF).
The advent of online media was poorly received by many journalists in Nigeria as some crumbled under the pressure of trying to keep up with digital media, keeping up with information flow, as well as keeping their organisations afloat.
