Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – A clinical psychologist, Dr. Adedotun Ajiboye, has advised journalists to pay deliberate attention to their mental health to better manage professional stress.
Ajiboye, a lecturer at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, gave the guidance during the 2025 Press Week of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Headquarters Chapel in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking on the theme “Mental Health,” he noted that journalism is a high-pressure field marked by deadlines, emotional fatigue, and frequent exposure to distressing news events.
According to him, mental well-being is shaped by one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviour, and consistent imbalance in any of the three may indicate declining wellness.
“Symptoms such as irritability, sleeplessness, forgetfulness, or sudden mood changes should not be ignored,” he advised, warning that, if unattended, these could escalate into depression, anxiety, or harmful coping habits.
Ajiboye cautioned against substance use. “You cannot use a problem to solve a problem,” he said, stressing that alcohol and drugs worsen stress rather than relieve it.
He identified four healthy stress-management strategies: staying connected to supportive people, practising routine self-care, seeking timely professional assistance, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
The 2025 NAN Press Week provided a platform for discussions on media ethics, journalism practice, and the welfare of press professionals.
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