As thousands of past violations come to light and detainees begin to be released in Syria, there is an urgent need to equip journalists, particularly women journalists with more sensitive and humane approaches to covering stories of survivors of trauma and abuse.

In response, Women Who Won the War launched a specialised training series focused on reporting on survivors’ experiences. The programme targets Syrian women journalists and aims to provide them with ethical and professional tools to engage with this complex subject matter.

One of the sessions, delivered by Aya Mahna, a mental health and trauma specialist, was part of this series. The session focused on understanding psychological trauma and its impact on both survivors and journalists, as well as on psychological support mechanisms that contribute to responsible and ethical media coverage.

The session addressed the distinctions between stress and trauma, the neurological effects of trauma on survivors’ thinking and expression, and the importance of sensitive engagement with testimonies. It also covered the phenomenon of secondary trauma, which journalists themselves may experience after prolonged exposure to distressing narratives, and offered practical guidance on self-care and recovery.

The session concluded by emphasising the need to create psychologically safe environments in newsrooms—spaces that protect journalists and strengthen the overall quality of trauma reporting.