My life partner Mary & I discuss talk with the Overseas Press Club of America

My life partner Mary Binks and I were delighted to be guests of the Overseas Press Club of America on Nov 15, 2023, to talk about my healing journey from PTSD, which is detailed in my memoir, Line in the Sand. We were brilliantly interviewed by Clothilde Redfern, director of the Rory Peck Trust in London. It's the first time Mary and I have spoken publicly together about what it was like at home during my many years struggling with PTSD, the family walking on eggshells, Mary trying to get me help, me in denial that anything was wrong.

One of the surprising things about our chat with Clothilde was the sudden emotion I felt -- half-way through -- when recounting what it was like to realise I could never be a Reuters journalist again because of my PTSD, do the sort of work I'd done for 23 years around the world. That was because so much of my identity was tied to being a journalist. We talked about how I've since forged a new identity.

Mary and I went away feeling like we'd imparted some very important messages for journalists, their partners, and others who work in frontline professions. Mary and I also had a strong message for news leaders and executives -- make the mental health of your staff a top priority! Don't let them feel like damaged goods, worthless, like Reuters did to me when I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2016.