Convening conversations
around media mental health and wellbeing
- ‘Just another manic Monday’(with thanks to The Bangles for the song title) Do you ever dread Mondays? The ‘reality bites’ moment after the weekend? The start of the week can be a rude wake up call even if we love our job. But for anyone feeling burnt out and exhausted, it can be another reminder of the sheerContinue reading “‘Just another manic Monday’”
- ‘There is a crack, a crack in everything that’s how the light gets in’‘There is a crack in everything that’s how the light gets in’ – I think about this line from ‘Anthem’, Leonard Cohen’s extraordinary song often. I read somewhere that he thought of this song one of his best, representative of his life’s work. This idea of something cracked letting in beauty (or letting it out)Continue reading “‘There is a crack, a crack in everything that’s how the light gets in’”
- Life lessons from race dayOn Sunday I took part in my first standard-distance duathlon, and I’ve spent a couple of days reflecting on the experience and wanted to share what I learned. For me these lessons are relevant to life beyond this sport, which is why I’m sharing them here. But first some terms: A duathlon is a multi-sportContinue reading “Life lessons from race day”
- #Mediatoo – what our industry needs to know about the hurt women are facingViolence against women and girls is endemic in society. I’ve been overwhelmed by the response to the poem I wrote about my rape by a man I met through my #journalism. This abuse was not the only time I have experienced gendered violence in my career. Over time, I have suppressed many experiences for self-protection.Continue reading “#Mediatoo – what our industry needs to know about the hurt women are facing”
- World Mental Health Day: Putting one foot in front of the otherKeeping on going, and realising my resilience Today is World Mental Health Day, and ordinarily I might post something about journalism and mental health, since this is my work. However, it’s also less than a week since I learned that I have qualified to represent Great Britain for my age group in sprint duathlon (run-bike-run).Continue reading “World Mental Health Day: Putting one foot in front of the other”
- Let me help you lead authenticallyI’m pleased to introduce myself. I’m Hannah Storm, a consultant and keynote speaker, with a strong journalism background, specialising in authentic leadership, media safety and mental health. I have worked with some of the world’s leading media organisations, in dozens of countries, and I’d like to help your company benefit from what I’ve learned, taught and shared. IContinue reading “Let me help you lead authentically”
- Leading by Example: How investing in mental health benefits journalists and journalismThis was my address to the Society of Editors’ ‘Future of News’ conference on March 15, 2023. Thank you, Dawn for inviting me to speak today. It is encouraging that mental health is on the agenda today – proof it is now seen as pivotal in securing the future of news. Over the next 15Continue reading “Leading by Example: How investing in mental health benefits journalists and journalism”
- The importance of anniversariesIt’s a year today since my Dad was diagnosed with stage four (and incurable) cancer, with associated paraneoplastic phenomena. I’ve kept this off social media until now, only alluding to the illness of a close family member. But it has taken its toll this year.At the time Dad was diagnosed, I didn’t realise it wasContinue reading “The importance of anniversaries”
- This is not another cheesy #valentinesday post.I’m a wordsmith and writer and I love that #mentalhealth begins with two letters ‘me’. So often when we are not well, we lose sight of loving ourselves. On my darkest days, I hated myself. I self-sabotaged, ate too little, drank too much, over-exercised, didn’t look after my sleep, had unhealthy relationships with people, would regularly agreeContinue reading “This is not another cheesy #valentinesday post.”
- My Year in Review2021 has definitely been a year of significant global and personal challenges. I know it has been a difficult period for many people, and I sincerely hope 2022 offers more light for all who have experienced darkness. Reflecting on what the past 12 months have meant personally has helped me see how far I’ve comeContinue reading “My Year in Review”
Ahead of World Mental Health Day (October 10), I recorded a podcast with the International Center for Journalists, discussing mental health and the media and offered my thoughts on how newsrooms can tackle taboos. Have a listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/692094/5713099-mental-health-and-journalism-part-5-a-conversation-with-hannah-storm
hannahstormmedia.com 