Fergal Keane (03:16)

FREE PREVIEW

Keane has been a war and conflict reporter for the BBC for 30 years. He has PTSD and has decided to investigate the condition for a better understanding.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (04:00)

Keane fears nightmares and loud noises. He was initially private about his PTSD that stemmed from covering the Rwandan Genocide. He admits he was addicted to the adrenaline of war coverage.

Keane and The Troubles (02:46)

Keane drives to Belfast and discusses covering conflicts in Ireland during the 1990s. Despite the trauma he was experiencing, he felt a sense of purpose.

Keane's Diagnosis (04:35)

Keane talks about growing up in fear because of his alcoholic father. He believes it prepared him for his later career and contributed to his PTSD. Dr. Niall Campbell talks about characteristics of PTSD.

Keane in Africa (07:21)

Keane covered the end of Apartheid in South Africa. In 1994, he was sent to Rwanda and witnessed violence, devastation, and war crimes. He is trying to confront what happened in Rwanda to deal with his PTSD.

Keane's Coping Methods (03:57)

Keane used alcohol to cope with PTSD. He had multiple career successes and sought out the fear and excitement of conflict reporting.

Keane's History (05:46)

In his reporting, Keane always wants to understand the history of the area and how it affects the people. He has begun researching transgenerational trauma and believes his grandmother had PTSD.

EMDR Therapy (08:06)

Complex PTSD comes from witnessing multiple traumatic events. Keane was diagnosed in 2008 and uses EMDR to process painful images and memories.

Confronting the Past (08:02)

Keane watches the documentary he made in Rwanda for the first time since 1994. He has felt guilty about his ability to leave Rwanda and return to his life. He meets with a survivor, who left on a convey with him.

Living with PTSD (03:23)

Keane talks about how making the film has helped him start healing. Keane was in Ukraine just before the war; he went to western Ukraine to cover the refugee crisis.

Credits: Horizon: Fergal Keane: Living with PTSD (00:32)

Credits: Horizon: Fergal Keane: Living with PTSD