Press House – Palestine implemented, on Sunday, August 18, 2026, a psychosocial support session for 16 female journalists from the Gaza Strip, as part of the project “Mental Health Helpline and Psychosocial Support Sessions for Journalists in the Gaza Strip 2026–2027,” funded by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
The sessions, which were held over three days and facilitated by the Psychosocial Specialist, Rina Salem Deeb, aimed to provide a safe, respectful, and confidential environment for participants to share their experiences and emotions. The sessions also provided immediate support for psychological trauma and Psychological First Aid (PFA), with the aim of reducing stress and intense sadness and strengthening psychological resilience to cope with the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical impacts of psychological trauma.
The specialist, Deeb, also introduced supportive and beneficial concepts, tools, and recreational activities designed to help mitigate the effects of traumatic events and support recovery. The sessions included guided deep-breathing exercises to help participants improve concentration and reduce anxiety, as well as visualization and meditation activities to alleviate stress.
The sessions also focused on psychological stress, its types and dimensions, and ways of coping with it. Participants were provided with guidance on how to maintain boundaries between their personal and professional lives. The sessions further addressed the forms and types of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), as well as the guiding principles of survivor-centered care for survivors of Gender-Based Violence.
In addition, the sessions covered self-care and mental health, explaining the importance of self-care and how to incorporate it into daily life. Relaxation and deep meditation sessions were also conducted, along with psychological release techniques integrated throughout the activities.
The final day of the psychosocial support sessions included a Legal Awareness Session delivered by Monther Al-Faranni, the Legal Advisor at Press House. The session addressed journalists’ rights in accordance with the Palestinian Labor Law.
The participants in the psychosocial support sessions expressed their hope that more such sessions would be provided, particularly in light of the painful and traumatic psychological and social impacts they continue to experience in the Gaza Strip.
