Have you noticed feeling more stressed after watching the evening news? You’re not alone. Recent research confirms that constant exposure to negative news can significantly impact mental wellbeing, leading to heightened stress, anxiety, and even depression. For mature adults who have witnessed decades of world events, today’s 24/7 news cycle presents unprecedented challenges to mental health.
This comprehensive guide explores how modern news consumption affects your psychological well-being and provides five practical strategies to stay informed without compromising your mental health. You’ll discover why our brains are naturally drawn to negative information, learn about the physical effects of news-induced stress on your body, and find actionable solutions to create a healthier relationship with current events.
Key topics include understanding the neurological basis of our attraction to bad news, recognizing the signs of news-related anxiety, and implementing boundaries that protect your peace of mind while keeping you appropriately informed. We’ll also share expert insights from leading psychologists and journalists who are advocating for more balanced news consumption habits. Ready to reclaim control over how current events affect your daily well-being?
Your Mental Health Is A Victim of The Constant News Cycle!
The transformation of how we consume news has fundamentally changed its impact on our psychological well-being. Recent research from 2023 found that negative words in news headlines increased user consumption rates online, particularly for topics like government and the economy. This creates a cycle where media outlets prioritize alarming content because it generates more engagement.
Stop and reflect for a moment: How many uplifting stories have you encountered today compared to headlines about violence, economic uncertainty, or global crises? The imbalance is stark, and it’s affecting your mental state more than you might realize.
Graham Davey, professor emeritus of psychology at Sussex University, notes that “the way that news is presented and the way that we access news has changed significantly over the last 15 to 20 years. These changes have often been detrimental to general mental health.”
Prefer to listen rather than read?
What Is All This Negative News Doing to Your Mental Health?
Studies examining the mental health impact of daily news exposure reveal demonstrable negative effects on psychological well-being. When you view distressing images or read alarming headlines, your brain doesn’t distinguish between direct personal threats and mediated dangers. Your stress response system activates regardless.
This activation triggers the release of cortisol, your body’s primary stress hormone. While cortisol serves important functions like mobilizing energy and reducing inflammation in short bursts, chronic elevation can lead to serious health concerns including compromised immune function and increased inflammation.
The visual nature of modern news amplifies this effect. Davey explains that today’s news is “increasingly visual and shocking,” with bystander-recorded videos that can be so graphic they may trigger acute stress responses or even symptoms similar to PTSD.
Why Do We Obsess Over Bad News?
Despite knowing that negative news affects our well-being, many of us continue consuming it compulsively. This isn’t a character flaw – it’s evolutionary biology at work. Our brains developed over thousands of years to prioritize potential threats for survival purposes.
This biological programming means we’re naturally more attentive to bad news than good news. It’s the same mechanism that helped our ancestors survive by staying alert to dangers, but in today’s information-rich environment, it can work against our mental health.
The result? You might find yourself checking news updates multiple times daily, even when you know it makes you feel worse. Understanding this pattern is the first step toward changing it.
How Bad News Affects Mental Health and Overall Well-Being
The effects of news-induced stress extend far beyond temporary feelings of anxiety. Chronic cortisol elevation from ongoing stress can disrupt multiple bodily systems, affecting everything from sleep patterns to cardiovascular health.
Research has linked persistent stress responses to inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, and other serious health conditions. For mature adults, who may already be managing various health considerations, this additional stress burden can be particularly concerning.
The psychological effects are equally significant. Many people report sleep disruption after consuming distressing news, difficulty concentrating, and persistent feelings of helplessness about world events they cannot control.
Is It Time to Refocus News to Achieve Better Mental Health?
One of Australia’s most respected journalists and television presenters, Leigh Sales, was recently quoted as saying:
“I think we need to reconsider the nature of “news” and I don’t have any easy answers for this. But I think the traditional model of the news is contributing to the mental health crisis in this country.
The nature of news is that it emphasizes the aberration or the rare occurrence over the most likely outcome. So, for example, 200 helicopters fly safely on any given day and the one that crashes makes the news.
That was fine back in the days when people saw one TV news bulletin per day or there was one daily newspaper, but now with social media and 24/7 news, you might see 25 references per day to that helicopter, complete with detailed images.
I know from research I did for my book, Any Ordinary Day, that to the human brain, that feels like 25 helicopters crashed, not one. I believe that the news is making people fear things they don’t need to be fearful of. It gives people a skewed sense of what is actually dangerous in life.
Let me give you an example: 3,747 Australians died of catastrophic falls in 2021, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (by contrast, COVID deaths were 1,122). I guarantee the possibility of a fatal fall is not front of mind for most people, even though it is one of the most common causes of death in Australia.
But if every single day, the media started covering the 10 people who had died in falls, and we had their families crying on TV and calling for action. We had “experts” going, “We have to do something about all the people dying from accidental falls,” I’m sure it would spark mass public anxiety. People would start thinking they were at significant personal risk of dying from a fall and suddenly we’d be seeing politicians announce non-slip floor mats are mandatory everywhere and there would be new regulations for shoe soles and so on.
The other thing that I think causes the public unnecessary anxiety is the over-emphasis on doomsday predictions on the opinion of one so-called “expert”. It’s the equivalent of crystal-ball gazing and we need to stop treating it as if it’s news. Those kinds of stories are endemic. “Housing prices set to fall 25 percent” will scream the headline. Then you read on and the fortune-telling is based on one person’s opinion. The story will also neglect to mention that it’s a 25 percent worst-case scenario prediction off the back of a year of crazy 30 percent price rises.
There’s plenty to be anxious about in life without the unnecessary fearmongering. Like I say, there are no easy answers to this. But we journalists need to think about it, otherwise, people are going to turn their backs on the news media increasingly.”
Five Strategies for Healthier News Consumption
There is a simple reality… bad news sells while good news doesn’t. In other words, don’t look to the media barons and their publications – including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, et al, to change their ways. It ain’t gonna happen in your lifetime or mine!
So that leaves you with a single option if you agree that the constant bombardment of bad news is affecting your mental health… self-discipline! You need to be your own censor by deciding when and where to get your news. It’s not going to be easy because you have an entire industry trying to get you to see more, not less news. But your mental health and even physical well-being depend on it.
Five things you can do to minimize the news cycle impacting your mental health:
1. Channel Your Concern into Action
Rather than passively consuming distressing information, transform your emotional response into constructive action. When you read about environmental challenges, consider contributing to local cleanup efforts. If global humanitarian crises concern you, even a small donation can shift your mental focus from helplessness to empowerment.
Remember the story of the young person throwing starfish back into the ocean. When asked why they bothered when thousands remained stranded, they replied while tossing another back: “It made a difference to that one.” Your actions, however small, create positive impact and help counteract news-related despair.
2. Choose Text-Based Summaries Over Visual Content
Our visual processing system is incredibly powerful, having evolved to quickly identify threats. When you view images of accidents, natural disasters, or violence, your brain processes these as immediate dangers, triggering stress responses.
Research confirms that visual elements in news content significantly impact our physiological responses. Opt for written news summaries instead of video content or graphic imagery. This allows you to stay informed while reducing the psychological impact of disturbing visuals.
3. Avoid Repetitive Coverage of the Same Events
Once you’ve learned the essential facts about a news event, consuming multiple versions of the same story serves no informational purpose. It only amplifies the emotional impact through repetition.
Set boundaries around news consumption. Choose one or two trusted sources and limit yourself to checking updates once or twice daily rather than continuously throughout the day. Most breaking news doesn’t require immediate attention unless it directly affects your local area.
4. Prioritize Activities That Nourish Your Well-being
Consider how much time you currently spend consuming news versus engaging in activities that enhance your quality of life. Are you spending more time reading about global problems than enjoying a walk in nature, reading for pleasure, or connecting with friends?
Track your news consumption for a week. You might be surprised by how much time you’re dedicating to information that leaves you feeling worse rather than better. Redirect some of that time toward activities that restore your sense of peace and joy.
5. Create a Soothing Audio Environment
If you enjoy background sound while going about daily activities, consider switching from news radio or talk shows to music. Music has been shown to naturally boost serotonin levels, promoting feelings of well-being and reducing stress responses.
This simple change can significantly improve your daily emotional state. Instead of processing a constant stream of concerning information, your mind can relax into more pleasant auditory experiences.
A Journalist’s Perspective on News Reform
Respected Australian journalist Leigh Sales offers valuable insight into this issue: “I think we need to reconsider the nature of ‘news’ and I don’t have any easy answers for this. But I think the traditional model of the news is contributing to the mental health crisis.”
Sales explains how the traditional news model emphasizes rare, negative events over common, positive outcomes. When you see repeated coverage of the same helicopter crash, your brain processes it as multiple crashes occurring, not one event being reported multiple times.
She advocates for more balanced reporting that doesn’t create unnecessary public anxiety through sensationalized coverage of isolated incidents or speculative “expert” predictions about potential future crises.
Taking Control of Your Information Diet
The reality is straightforward: news organizations profit from engagement, and negative content generates more clicks and views than positive stories. Expecting the media industry to prioritize your mental health over their business model isn’t realistic.
This places the responsibility squarely on your shoulders. You must become the curator of your own information diet, choosing what serves your well-being while keeping you appropriately informed about important developments.
The goal isn’t to become uninformed about significant world events. Rather, it’s about consuming news in a way that doesn’t compromise your mental health or quality of life. You can stay engaged with current events while protecting your psychological well-being.
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Put Your Mental Health Front and Centre by Opting out of the News Cycle!
Start by honestly assessing how news consumption currently affects you. Do you feel energized and empowered after reading the news, or do you feel anxious and helpless? Your emotional response provides valuable guidance about whether your current habits serve your well-being.
Consider implementing “news-free” periods during your day, perhaps the first hour after waking or the hour before bedtime. This protects your most peaceful moments from potentially distressing information.
Choose specific times for news updates rather than constantly checking throughout the day. This creates structure around information consumption and prevents the scattered, anxious feeling that comes from continuous partial attention to disturbing events.
Remember that very few news events require your immediate attention or response. Most information can wait until you’re in the right mental and emotional space to process it constructively.
Disclaimer
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FAQ: Senior Mental health
- How can I stay informed about important events without feeling overwhelmed?
- Focus on weekly news summaries from reputable sources rather than daily updates. This provides perspective on which events are truly significant while reducing emotional overwhelm from constant coverage.
- Is it normal to feel anxious after watching the news?
- Yes, research confirms that exposure to negative news content commonly leads to heightened stress and anxiety. Your response is a normal psychological reaction to distressing information.
- Should I completely avoid news if it affects my mental health?
- Complete avoidance isn’t necessary. Instead, modify how and when you consume news. Choose text-based summaries, limit frequency, and balance news consumption with positive activities.
- How do I know if my news consumption has become problematic?
- Warning signs include checking news compulsively throughout the day, feeling unable to stop despite negative emotional effects, losing sleep over world events, or feeling persistent anxiety about issues beyond your control.
- What’s the difference between staying informed and news addiction?
- Healthy news consumption involves intentional, limited engagement that keeps you appropriately informed. News addiction involves compulsive checking, emotional distress, and difficulty focusing on other aspects of life.
- How can I discuss current events without becoming overwhelmed?
- Focus conversations on understanding issues rather than dwelling on disturbing details. Discuss potential solutions or positive responses rather than repeatedly reviewing problems.
References
- Change Mental Health. (2024). News consumption and mental health. Retrieved from: https://changemh.org/resources/news-consumption-and-your-mental-health/
- Psychiatric Times. (2025). Media Excess & Mental Health. Retrieved from: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/media-excess-mental-health
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. The Mental Health Impact of Daily News Exposure During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ecological Momentary Assessment Study. PMC9135112
- Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Cortisol: What It Is, Function, Symptoms & Levels. Retrieved from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. Chronic Stress, Cortisol Dysfunction, and Pain: A Psychoneuroendocrine Rationale. PMC4263906
