We are more informed than ever, yet many of us feel increasingly overwhelmed. Constant access to global news, social media updates and breaking headlines means that distressing events are no longer distant- they arrive directly on our screens, often without pause or context. While staying informed matters, absorbing relentless bad news can take a real toll on our mental health.

Mental health Awareness Week invites us to focus on taking action for our mental health, and that includes how we engage with the world around us. Feeling overwhelmed by global events is not a sign of apathy or weakness; it’s a human response to prolonged exposure to uncertainty, crisis and suffering.

Taking action does not mean switching off completely or ignoring what is happening. It means learning how to protect your wellbeing while staying engaged in ways that feel sustainable.

This article explores why bad news can feel so heavy- and how setting boundaries and seeking balance over overload can help us care for our mental health in a chronically online world.

The 3 pillars of workplace happiness and how to use them – Big Think