Covering trauma and coping with mental health

Many times as journalists, we cover traumatic events that shape and change society. These include natural disasters, mass shootings, wars, and even everyday crime stories. While these stories have a major impact on the people affected, they also affect the journalists who witnessed it first-hand and covered the traumatic event. Being around violence day in and out, has a major impact on one’s mental health and puts them at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

In wake of the recent LA wildfires, the Society of Professional Journalists Los Angeles Chapter will host a panel on how to cope with your mental health while covering traumatic news events.  

The panel will be held Wednesday, March 12 at 6 p.m. PST via Zoom.

Click here to RSVP  

Meet our panelists: 

Traute Winters: 

Traute Winters is the Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Los Angeles County (NAMI GLAC) which is the leading countywide organization composed of grassroots-based chapters that promotes wellness, recovery, equality, and dignity for individuals and families affected by mental illness and the community at large. She provides leadership in advocacy, education, support, and public awareness throughout Los Angeles County. Prior to joining NAMI GLAC in 2021, Traute was the Greater Los Angeles and Central Coast Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for six years overseeing from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles County. As Area Director she worked with communities on educational programs, advocated for public policy, and provided programs and resources that supported those affected by suicide. She has over 15 years of non-profit experience working with large national non-profits in education and outreach, advocacy, events and fundraising. Traute started her career in marketing and advertising before moving into non-profit work. 

 Anastasiya Bolton:

Anastasiya Bolton is a seven-time Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist with more than 20 years of experience working all over the U.S and internationally. In addition to being a passionate advocate for vicarious trauma awareness among journalists, Anastasiya is a communications and crisis-communications expert and strategist, as well as a media coach. 

Throughout her career, Anastasiya has specialized in covering challenging, multi-layered, investigative, emotional, victim-first stories that affect communities long-term.  She has repeatedly been at the center of stories that have shaped the national discussion, including the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Colorado’s most devastating wildfires, the complexity of immigration and life on the U.S.-Mexico border, and far too many instances of family violence, gun violence, line-of-duty deaths, mass casualty events and their aftermath.   

Her reporting around mass violence has connected her with victims, their families, survivors and first responders. Most notably, the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting, the mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and school shootings in Centennial, Colorado, Bailey, Colorado and Santa Fe, Texas.  Anastasiya covered stories of survival, recovery, struggle, and resilience. Not just reporting on the immediate aftermath of these horrific events, but following the journey of victims for years, learning a lot about the incredible strength of human character as well as the lasting effects of trauma. She’s reported on the gaps that exist in this country’s support system for victims of mass violence.