Convening conversations
around media mental health and wellbeing
- 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”
- It took me a long time to call my assault by the name it merits – rapeNovember 25, 2021 – It’s been 16 years since I was raped by a man I trusted, a man I met through my journalism, who I later befriended socially. I have never mentioned his name publicly. But I have replayed the moments that led to the assault. I have found myself asking what I should have done differently,Continue reading “It took me a long time to call my assault by the name it merits – rape”
- Ahead of #Worldmentalhealth day, I hope my story might help someoneA little over three years ago, I hit the bottom. I seriously wondered what worth my life had, felt lost and alone, and was struggling with my mental health. I felt unable to speak about how much I was suffering because I thought it would be a sign of weakness and because I still believedContinue reading “Ahead of #Worldmentalhealth day, I hope my story might help someone”
- The Story Behind the Stories: The Thin Line Between Everything and NothingThere are moments when everything changes: liminal spaces, seconds where the stars align and times when life changes completely. As a journalist, I am privileged to have had a ring-side seat at occasions that have made history, and met individuals whose lives have been changed in an instant. The Thin Line Between Everything andContinue reading “The Story Behind the Stories: The Thin Line Between Everything and Nothing”
- The right to say ‘I am a writer’There’s a field along the edge of the road where I ran this morning, a narrow track hemmed with tall grass that leads to an opening across paddocks and hills into the dappled distance. I stopped at the end of my run and stood there for a few minutes, watching the sun light illuminate theContinue reading “The right to say ‘I am a writer’”
- Memoir successI’m delighted that my memoir has been shortlisted in this year’s Mslexia awards, reaching the final 12 in this prestigious competition for women writers. My story explores how I attempt to piece my life back together after a diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder by unravelling the episodes that threatened to unravel me. In teasingContinue reading “Memoir success”
- Walking the Walk and Talking the TalkThis week I step down as director of the Ethical Journalism Network (EJN). The past two years have brought immense challenges, but our small team has achieved significant success and global impact. It’s been a time when accurate, responsible journalism with humanity has shown its value and the fact it really can make the difference betweenContinue reading “Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk”
- Anniversary reflectionsAnniversaries have a special resonance for many trauma survivors. For me, certain dates are etched into my mind. They bubble beneath the surface, threatening to spill over as they approach, reminding me of the need to be extra kind to myself at these times. There’s one date that marks a turning point for my relationshipContinue reading “Anniversary reflections”
- Thoughts after a tough weekLast week was really tough. Probably the toughest week of this entire pandemic. I know many people who struggled. I want to share my experiences in the hope that it might resonate with others, and help anyone who feels isolated to feel less alone. My PTSD hit me really hard. I struggled to sleep. WhenContinue reading “Thoughts after a tough week”
- 2020 was a marathon. Now we need to pace ourselves. What running has taught me about mental healthSpoiler: you don’t even need to like running to read this. Today I scheduled an hour into my work day to get outside and run. It gave me the chance to think about what running has taught me about managing my mental health during unprecedented times. 2020 was a marathon. After any long distance race,Continue reading “2020 was a marathon. Now we need to pace ourselves. What running has taught me about mental health”
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
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