UK and Irish newsrooms are being called to sign up to a new mental health and wellbeing charter.

A charter is a formal statement that outlines an organisation's rights, aims, or values.

Leona O'Neill, an experienced journalist and lecturer at Ulster University in Northern Ireland, is launching the The MediaStrong Newsroom Wellbeing Charter to ask news organisations to increase their commitment to mental health.

Though this is a legally non-binding commitment, it signals to employees that mental health is being treated seriously within newsrooms.

Implementation is open to interpretation, but suggested outlines have been provided:

"Culture and mindset change is the most important aspect of this charter," says O'Neill.

She says that some of the early adopters have printed out the document and placed it in the newsroom. The impact of a visible, cultural commitment should not be underestimated.

Some newsrooms already had the groundwork in place and signed the charter without much convincing. Smaller news organisations have found they need to take some time to assess and prepare before committing.

Others have rejected the........

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