Brazil journalists face high rates of depression and stress

A new study titled ‘Condições de Trabalho e Saúde Mental de Jornalistas no Brasil’ reveals a mental health crisis among Brazilian journalists. Conducted by Fundacentro in partnership with the National Federation of Journalists (Fenaj), the research was presented to the Social Communication Council at the Senate.

The findings indicate that over 50% of the 257 surveyed journalists exhibit symptoms of depression, with significant portions reporting severe or extremely severe cases. Additionally, 47.8% suffer from stress and 47.9% report insomnia, rates that exceed national averages. The study also noted that 21.5% of respondents engage in risky or harmful alcohol consumption.

Workplace environment factors are cited as primary drivers of this decline. The report highlights high levels of professional pressure, low social support (reported by 61%), and the impact of digital metrics on job performance. Furthermore, the study identifies widespread violence in the workplace, with 26% to 37% of journalists reporting moral harassment and 30% reporting cyberbullying.