Four journalists attend course at Carter Centre

The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) selected four Doha-based journalists to participate in the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, a programme brought to Qatar through a partnership between WISH and The Carter Centre. The training took place at the Carter Centre, in Atlanta, Georgia, from September 12 to 14.
The fellowship provides journalists with insight into mental health, offering them a unique opportunity to enhance their reporting on some of the greatest health challenges facing the world today.
Buthaina Mohamed al-Janahi, a Qatari columnist at Al Arab newspaper; Tarek Bazely, Al Jazeera English’s Science and Technology editor; Kathy Hearn, a TV producer for Al Jazeera English  and Aney Mathew, a contributor to Qatar Foundation’s publications, participated in the programme.
Egbert Schillings, chief executive officer of WISH, said: “Under the guidance of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Qatar is taking a proactive approach toward increasing support for those coping with mental health issues. Unfortunately, the stigmatisation of mental health issues can often deter individuals from seeking treatment and support. Because the media plays a key role in combating negative views of mental illnesses, we are delighted to be working with The Carter Centre to help journalists report sensitively and accurately.”
WISH will manage the fellowships in Qatar by facilitating media training and adapting the programme to meet the needs of local media. The Carter Centre, meanwhile, provides journalists with training in Atlanta in addition to various educational materials, mentorship, evaluation tools and technical expertise to ensure a sustainable and tailored programme for Qatar.  
“These fellows can reshape how the media in the Middle East covers one of the most misunderstood public health problems and ultimately help to end unfair stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses,” said former US first lady Rosalynn Carter.
For nearly two decades, the Carter Centre has awarded one-year fellowship to 165 journalists, connecting them with resources and expertise to enhance their ability to cover mental health issues around the world. The programme is currently implemented in the US, Colombia and the UAE, and was previously in New Zealand, South Africa and Romania.