Awareness & More People Speaking Up

PTSD Awareness Month and World Whistleblower Day

June marked PTSD Awareness Month and on June 23 we also observed World Whistleblower Day.

Many whistleblowers The Signals Network has worked with over the years have faced intense pressure, isolation and the lasting impact of speaking out. Some reach out in moments of real distress, in the middle of the night, afraid, overwhelmed and unsure how to cope with what they are carrying alone. Access to psychosocial support is a key part of how we respond to these realities, and our Whistleblower Protection Program Director, Margaux Ewen, made a video explaining why this support is essential for whistleblowers and journalists’ sources who have gone through these experiences.

Both PTSD Awareness Month and World Whistleblower Day are reminders of the human impact behind whistleblowing and the importance of stronger protections, better support systems and safer reporting channels. If you’d like to support this work, you can make a donation here.

Why requests from would-be whistleblowers are surging

The Signals Network has seen a sharp rise in the number of people seeking support with requests more than tripling in early 2026. Similar trends reported by partner organizations suggest the increase is widespread.

Greater awareness of whistleblowing, growing concerns about government accountability and corporate secrecy, and the visibility of support organizations are all likely contributing factors. While legal protections have improved in many countries, speaking up remains a difficult path, leading more people to seek expert guidance before acting.

Read the full story on our blog.

More voices are coming forward

Since the beginning of the year, we have seen a steady increase in requests from whistleblowers reaching out for support at critical moments in their lives and cases.

So far this year, the TSN program team has received over 350 requests for support from whistleblowers facing serious personal and professional risk. Each request represents someone who is considering or has already made the difficult decision to speak up and now needs protection, legal help or psychosocial support to stay safe. While this surge in requests, together with our limited resources, means we cannot respond to everyone who reaches out, we remain committed to providing steady, reliable support wherever possible.

Almost here: How to work safely with sensitive sources

Good news, we are in the final stages of beta testing our journalist training, How to work safely with sensitive sources, created by The Signals Network in collaboration with Reynolds Journalism Institute, which will be available online and free to use.

The training looks at the psychological, digital, and legal aspects of the journalist–source relationship, offering practical guidance on how to engage with sources from first contact through to post-publication, while maintaining professional and ethical boundaries and navigating the anxiety and trauma that can come with these relationships. You can sign up here to get updates and access the training once it launches.