Reporting on Ukraine with a consequence
Ukrainian journalists cope with emotional burnout and the challenge of upholding professional standards.
The devastating consequences of the war in Ukraine; destruction, casualties, rescue operations, and the personal stories of both civilians and military personnel are reported by Ukraine’s photographers and journalists. Their work has kept local as well as global audiences informed, and contributed a strengthened international understanding of the war’s many dimensions and Ukraine’s resistance.
The journalists are not on merely reporting the war, they are also living through the war. Ukraine’s media professionals not only navigate a constant stream of intense and consequential news and event, they must do so with ethical sensitivity and care toward those they interview, while maintaining balanced, responsible reporting for their audiences. Like all Ukrainians, journalists live with the stress of daily air raids, sleepless nights, and concern for loved ones. But they cannot disconnect from the distressing news.
According to data from the Mental Support for Media (MSM) programme run by the Suspilnist Foundation:
- 92.4% of 327 surveyed media workers in Ukraine show symptoms of burnout.
- 93% exhibit signs of depression, with one-third showing moderate to severe levels.
- Almost all participants reported symptoms of anxiety disorders.
- 191 respondents had experienced life-threatening events; for most, these traumatic memories remain intrusive and troubling.
“Due to the irregular schedule and fast pace of work, I sometimes don’t even notice the fatigue setting in. There’s rarely time to rest, and burnout eventually follows,” says Olha Zvonariova, a correspondent at Ukrinform, Ukraine’s national news agency that publishes over 500 news items daily in seven languages. “Journalists often need to offer emotional support to their sources, while leaving their own mental health unchecked due to the intense demands of the job.”
“We encounter so many emotionally charged situations that it’s not always clear how to react appropriately—how to speak with someone who’s experienced tragedy, or how to quickly pull yourself together,” she adds. “At times, journalists must act like psychologists to build trust with their interviewees. We often internalise their pain as our own.”
Normalising mental health
In early 2023, the Mental Support for Media programme was launched in Ukraine as a result of a four-year collaboration between the Suspilnist Foundation and the BrainCult Center for Mental Health. The programme aimed to normalise a culture of mental health care in the daily routines of media professionals.
The MSM programme includes four key components: diagnostics, training, individual therapy sessions, and recovery activities. It also aims to create a “shared experience” within newsrooms, encouraging peer participation and feedback. This environment helps reduce any stigma that may surround mental health support and makes seeking help more socially acceptable.
“There hasn’t been a strong culture of seeking psychological help in Ukraine, and the same was true in journalism,” says Andrii Sydorenko, coordinator of Mental Support for Media. “But the war has created challenges that can’t be faced alone. This programme helped many media workers experience real improvements, and they now share this experience with others promoting the message that reaching out for support is both necessary and courageous.”
“This shift contributes to a broader transformation in how mental health is perceived in Ukrainian society. We are deeply grateful to all partners and donors supporting this shared effort.”
To measure impact, researchers compared standardized assessments taken before and after journalists completed the program:
- 79% of participants reported reduced burnout
- 85% experienced lower anxiety levels
- 95% showed decreased symptoms of depression
Resource limitations a challenge
From 2023 to 2025, more than 600 media workers participated in MSM. IMS was among the first supporters of this comprehensive initiative, later joined by Internews, UNESCO Ukraine, and the U.S. Embassy’s Media Development Fund—enabling the programme to expand nationwide.
However, as of mid-year 2025, due to shifts in U.S. policy and the withdrawal of key public and private funders, the programme’s ability to continue providing support has been severely constrained despite rising demand.
An immediate priority is finding new institutional partners who can help sustain and expand the programme.
