The coronavirus pandemic has been tough on reporters who were isolated at home and covering a tragic beat. It has at least highlighted the need for better mental health support from leaders now and in post-lockdown newsrooms.
Part of the solution is to look out for red flags in your colleagues' behaviour and put the right support in place.
Freelance writer April Reese provides a guide on how editors can support mental wellbeing of their staff (The Open Notebook). She writes that the discussion should start as early as when new recruits enter the company.
"When onboarding a new hire or assigning a story to a freelancer, for example, editors can let writers know that it's okay to come forward if a mental health issue affects their work and that accommodations are available if and when they're needed," she writes.
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