Our new media seems to be saturated by news of war in Israel/Gaza/Lebanon or Ukraine/Russia, but there are nearly 180 armed conflicts around the world that rarely get a mention in the news. And the number of direct deaths recorded in these conflicts will be far outnumbered by those:
· who’ve been wounded (physically and emotionally),
· who are dying through the resulting hunger and disease
· struggling during and in the aftermath of war due to the loss of homes and livelihoods,
· grieving the loss of loved ones, and the loss of all the above
That’s all before we get to the impact on the environment, the major disruption to education and the huge impact of the trauma on all people (military and civilian) affected by wars.
People around the world are watching these crises unfold not only through traditional news sources, but also on social media via raw, personal TikTok videos, Instagram stories, and tweets.
The stream of information on social media is powerful and gives people a window into the experiences of others in war zones. But it comes at a cost; research shows that news coverage (of traumatic events across all news sources) can have a huge negative impact on viewers’ mental health.
How do we manage the constant bombardment of negative, traumatic news?
A few things that I’ve found helpful are:
· Reducing exposure – I want to stay informed, but once I’ve read headlines, I stop looking. News tends to operate in cycles and repeatedly accessing or scrolling through stories doesn’t add much information, it just takes an emotional toll.
· Remember there are always people who are helping. In any war or disaster, there are always people and organisations working to bring help, relief and reconciliation.
· Focusing on the goodness and beauty in the world. Despite the barrage of negative news we get, there are far more good things going on in the world. Focussing on the goodness and beauty around us can be a reminder of that.
· Praying – crying out to God about the suffering in the world. Praying for justice and peace, and praying for all those that are doing what they can to help
· Doing what I can where I am – Being part of the solution. There is suffering is everywhere and there’s always someone or some cause that’s in need of help. As Mother Teresa said, "Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you"
On 10th November millions of people in the UK and around the world will gather to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country. But we also gather to remember the broader impact of the suffering in the world caused by war and to commit again to do what we can wherever we are to work for peace.
I hope you can join us
Rev Barry Jackson