Media

Media

I regularly speak to the media on responsible reporting on mental health and suicide, the intersection of journalism and mental health, and the future of the creator economy.

I believe it is time to consign to the dustbin the ancient idea that 'human interest stories' are a separate genre within journalism. All stories have to have the human at the centre, and examining the mental health implications of every story irrespective of the 'beat' assigned to them – politics, economics, culture, or lifestyle – is one of the most radically efficient ways of doing that.

If you are a journalist and feel I can add value to your work, I'd be happy to chat. Please send your queries with a deadline to tanmoy@sanitybytanmoy.com. You can also find me on Twitter here and here.

Here's a sampler of my media appearances. Thanks to all the colleagues who listened to me and held space for my thoughts.

Research publications

Dollars and disparities: challenging news media’s coverage of global mental health and its economics
A post-COVID spike in mental health coverage provides an opportunity for a critical review of gaps in economic coverage.
The national suicide prevention strategy in India: context and considerations for urgent action
India reports the highest number of suicide deaths in the world. At this time when the Indian Government is formulating a national suicide prevention …

Interviews and profiles

“The future of journalism is small, intimate and personal,” says Indian journalist who’s writing about mental health on Substack
Tanmoy Goswami was the world’s first sanity correspondent. Now he’s creating a platform to highlight mental health issues in the Global South.
How Tanmoy Goswami Built a Newsletter Audience Around Mental Health
In conversation about the challenges of building a newsletter from India, and how to do more for yourself by doing less.
Changing the Mental Health Discussion
This is a banner year for mental health. And Sanity by Tanmoy is one of several organizations working hard to lead that charge.
This Indian outlet is setting a fresh tone for mental health journalism
Reporting on mental health is not as simple as repeating facts — it also requires the painstaking task of handling sensitive information and stories. Responsible reporting on suicide, for example, can help prevent suicide contagion, also called the Werther Effect.

Quotes

Bitter (truth) pills
Bitter (truth) pills
Humanising work: the Impact Sector edition
My own involvement with this sector has been very illuminating. Before joining my current full-time stint at Rang De, I have been consulting for NGOs in the impact sector over the last three years. For me, work in the impact sector has been all heart. You push through the challenges because you can…
Worklife+ newsletter
Your weekly guide to building a great career and professional relationships
How not to depict mental illness and suicide in news reports
How not to depict mental illness and suicide in news reports. The media needs to stop using insensitive or triggering ‘representational images’ and photographs.
What India Can Learn From Covid-19 To Build A Healthier Nation
With the Covid-19 incidence declining over the past few weeks, and with the launch of an ambitious vaccination campaign, 2021 could be a better year for India. But only if the country learnt from the experience of Covid-19 and addressed some big gaps in it’s health system, say experts.
The struggles exacerbated by COVID-19 won’t disappear soon. This year should be a wake-up call to the news industry. - Poynter
Unless our industry gets better at supporting journalists’ mental health, individuals who bring unique and much-needed perspectives will leave.
Is Indian media complying with suicide reporting guidelines? Study shows language used by many newspapers problematic-India News , Firstpost
According to the Centre for Suicide Prevention, there have been other studies that have too noted this correlation between sensational portrayals of suicide by the media versus the risk of attempted suicide and suicide rates. Media reporting on suicide can cause a 1 to 2% variance in suicides
How the coverage of Sushant Singh’s death was a disservice to mental health reportage
It has been over four months since Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his apartment in Mumbai. The media coverage that has followed went fro
As competition intensifies in the paid newsletter world, 12 writers on Substack detail how much money they’re making
Insider spoke with 12 Substack newsletter authors to find out how much revenue they make from paid subscriptions and ads.

Panel and podcast appearances

Can Therapy-Speak Help the Cause of Mental Health? A Discussion on Pop-Culture ft. Tanmoy Goswami from Sanity - Little Fixes Podcast
Trigger warning- The episode contains references to suicide and self-harm, please use your discretion before listening. Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on YouTube Music Listen on JioSaavn Listen on Gaana Listen on Amazon Music This episode is more of a free flowing […]
toxic Work Culture: Morning Brief Podcast: Vile & viral: Growing toxic work culture | The Economic Times Podcast
A toxic workplace is a silent intruder that’s rotting organisations from within. Making headlines of late, viral videos exposed managers from HDFC Bank and Bajaj Finserv berating their employees, sparking a nationwide debate on workplace toxicity. Did you know an increase in toxicity is causing high…
‎MICAST The Official Podcast Of MICA Ahmedabad: The Business of Well-Being: Mental Health and Burnout Prevention with Tanmoy Goswami, Founding editor of Sanity on Apple Podcasts
‎Show MICAST The Official Podcast Of MICA Ahmedabad, Ep The Business of Well-Being: Mental Health and Burnout Prevention with Tanmoy Goswami, Founding editor of Sanity - 7 Apr 2023
Startups and Substack: How to Build Your Media Brand During a Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has upended the world of work and thrown inequality into sharp relief. At the same time, it has also presented a unique set of diffi…
#115 Sanity Correspondent - with Tanmoy Goswami - FirstHuman
My guest this week on Being Human is Tanmoy Goswami, who holds that rare distinction of being the world’s only ‘Sanity Correspondent’ for, well, The Correspondent. He is a passionate advocate for us talking more openly about mental health. He first got on my radar with his article “From the myth of…
Rethinking Mental Health
Mental health is an integral part of health and is more than the absence of mental illnesses. According to a report by the World Health Organisation, 7.5 percent of the Indian population suffers from some form of mental disorder. To talk more about mental health and it’s current scenario in India,…
Ep.34 How Do You Find Your Are Depressed? ft. Tanmoy Goswami, Sanity Correspondent at The Correspondent
How do you distinguish between actual depression and just a ‘depression’ that you might feel during these times! We discuss this and more with our guest Tanmoy Goswami. Tanmoy also takes us through a personal life with his wife and child where his wife a caregiver plays a very important role in keep…
Ep.35 Suicide In The Times Of COVID-19 ft. Dr. Soumitra Pathare & Tanmoy Goswami
Suicide rates are 50 percent higher during these times of uncertainty, stress, and isolation compared to last year. But what is the character of Suicide? Is it primarily just a health sector concern? Do we need to dig deeper and look into other sectors? Is suicide going to be the next crisis? How ca…
‎Mind Games | Mirchi: Tanmoy Goswami on Apple Podcasts
‎Show Mind Games | Mirchi, Ep Tanmoy Goswami - 6 May 2019