The Media Resilience Network

Travel notes – MDRnet.org

Journalists traveling to cover sensitive topics face several significant emotional challenges, ranging from the psychological weight of the stories they tell to the stress of operating in high-risk environments.

Vicarious and Secondary Trauma

When journalists “cross borders” to report on displaced populations, they are often “carrying trauma” alongside those they interview. Covering deeply personal and often tragic “immigrant stories” can lead to secondary trauma, where the reporter absorbs the emotional distress of their subjects.

High-Stress Operational Environments

Reporting on events such as immigration raids and protests places journalists in volatile situations that can trigger intense anxiety and fear for their own safety and legal standing. The pressure to protect sources while navigating these high-stakes environments adds a layer of persistent emotional strain.

The Struggle for “Resilient Traveling”

Managing mental health while abroad is a complex task that requires proactive planning to maintain stability. Without the usual support systems, journalists may find it difficult to transition “from crisis to care,” potentially leading to burnout or a mental health crisis if they do not have a structured plan for resilience.

Isolation and Lack of Support

Traveling for work often means being separated from personal and professional support networks. This isolation can exacerbate pre-existing conditions or make it harder to process the mental health challenges that arise from witnessing conflict or human suffering.

ACTION ITEMS

1. Conduct Comprehensive Pre-Travel Mental Health Planning

Traveling, especially to high-stress or unfamiliar environments, can exacerbate existing mental health conditions or trigger new psychological challenges. Proactive planning ensures that you have the necessary tools to maintain stability while away from your usual support systems.

Reflect on coping strategies and ensure you have a sufficient supply of any required medications that are legal in your destination.

2. Prioritize Physical Safety and Legal Rights 

We need to ensure we can work without undue risk.

Carry clear identification and credentials, and research the specific local laws regarding the rights of the press in the region you are visiting.

3. Implement Strategies to Mitigate Secondary Trauma

Interacting or reporting on any number of topics often involves exposure to deep trauma. This can lead to vicarious traumatization for the reporter if not managed carefully.

Travelers should be mindful that crossing borders “frequently involves “carrying trauma” which affects both the individuals moving and those documenting their journeys.

Establish a “debriefing” routine or access a peer support network to process intense emotional experiences after conducting interviews or visiting high-conflict areas.

4. Ensure Continuity of Care 

Access to mental health resources varies significantly between countries. Lack of access to a provider can lead to a crisis in a foreign environment. Managing mental health needs while outside one’s own spaces is essential.

Verify the legality of your prescriptions in your destination and create a “crisis plan” that includes the contact information for local, mental health services.

5. Cultivate a “Crisis to Care” Support Network

Moving from a state of “crisis” to a state of “care” requires a structured support system that transcends borders. Isolation is a significant risk factor for mental health decline during travel.

Support frameworks are designed to move individuals “from crisis to care” by providing structured mental health resources.

Set up a mandatory check-in schedule with a supervisor, family member, or colleague to monitor your safety and psychological well-being at regular intervals.

Need help?

Document created for ONA, March 30th, 2026