UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

06/04/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/04/2025 07:54

UNESCO's Emergency Response: Psychological Support for Lebanese Women Journalists Amid Crises

The initiative directly targeted 15 Lebanese women journalists severely affected by the crisis in Lebanon, as well as by the trauma of working in an unstable environment. It aimed to enhance their resilience through a comprehensive series of individual psychological support sessions, specialized trauma therapy exercises, and the replacement of damaged media equipment. This approach combined both humanitarian and professional dimensions, recognizing the right to mental health while ensuring the continuity of journalistic work.
In her testimony, a photojournalist shared her experience with the psychological and professional challenges she faced:


"The crisis significantly impacted my work as a journalist. I had to stop working for almost three months, then gradually returned, but to this day, I still can't resume work as I used to. The destruction of my home and the loss of my safe space affected both my psychological and professional stability. On top of that, family responsibilities overwhelmed me, leading to burnout and emotional exhaustion."
Another journalist covering social issues spoke about the psychological trauma triggered by explosions and the economic collapse:
"The psychological and social support I received played a crucial role in helping me face these challenges. It helped me process what happened and release my emotions in a healthy way. I also learned how to manage anger and take care of myself without guilt or pressure to return to work quickly."
A digital news editor shared her experience with overlapping crises and their impact on her daily work:
"Under such difficult circumstances, especially with growing psychological pressure from cumulative crises, psychological support was essential. It gave me the tools to manage my emotions, allowing me to continue working as a journalist without being overwhelmed by psychological challenges or feeling helpless."
A field correspondent described how the tools she gained from therapy sessions helped her cope:
"I learned effective stress management techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and emotional release strategies. These allowed me to face difficult events with awareness, without compromising the quality of my work or my inner balance."
Similarly, an investigative journalist highlighted the constant professional pressure from covering humanitarian issues:
"Keeping up with events daily while maintaining professional quality created ongoing mental pressure. The emotional involvement required in reporting human stories drained me mentally and made it difficult to separate work from personal life."
This initiative created a safe space that reconnected participants with themselves and their profession, helping them regain psychological balance and continue fulfilling their journalistic duties. The provision of replacement equipment also restored a degree of professional stability, positively impacting the quality of their work and enabling a quicker return to the field.
This collective experience clearly demonstrates that psychological support is just as vital as professional support. It is an integral part of safeguarding press freedom-particularly in fragile environments where journalists face daily threats, both physical and psychological.

The collaboration between UNESCO and the Samir Kassir Foundation underscores the importance of long-term strategic partnerships-not only in providing rapid crisis response but also in building a sustainable foundation that enables media professionals to carry out their mission with dignity and responsibility.


This intervention forms part of UNESCO's broader initiative to support journalists in Lebanon, aimed at strengthening their resilience and ensuring the sustainability of a free and independent media landscape in the country.
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