Kendis Gibson, a familiar face in U.S. TV news, is sharing a deeply personal journey in his new book, “Five Trips.” As Variety reported, the memoir offers readers an unflinching look at Gibson's career struggles, mental health battles and his path to healing through psychedelic experiences. Known for his roles at ABC News, CNN and MSNBC, Gibson's story reveals the hidden turmoil behind the polished image viewers saw on the screen.
A Troubled Childhood And Career Struggles
Gibson's story begins long before his TV career. Raised in Belize, he faced the trauma of repeated sexual assault in his childhood. This, along with the mysterious death of a close friend, left emotional scars that lingered throughout his life. As Gibson climbed the ranks of television news, his inner turmoil continued to intensify, leading to depression, PTSD and suicidal thoughts.
Despite appearing on Good Morning America 212 times in his first two years at ABC News, Gibson felt increasingly marginalized behind the scenes. "I wasn't prepared for [the cost of success]," he recalls, referencing advice from CNN anchor Bernard Shaw. The pressure of long hours, public scrutiny and personal struggles ultimately led to a suicide attempt in 2018, saved only by the intervention of friends.
Mental Health Battles Behind The TV Screen
“Five Trips” doesn't just cover the highs of Gibson's career but dives into his mental health challenges. His time in TV news, though filled with accomplishments, came at a great personal cost. In the memoir, Gibson recounts how racial discrimination within ABC News, especially during his efforts to promote diversity, added to his emotional burden. "It contributed to the mental health decline," he admits, detailing how the situation worsened his already fragile state.
Psychedelic Healing: A Personal Experiment
Seeking solace and a way to confront his trauma, Gibson explored psychedelic therapy. He recounts his experiments with MDMA in Hawaii, LSD in Big Sur, psilocybin in Belize and ayahuasca in Peru. "I felt connected with the universe. The weight I'd carried a lifetime, embarrassed by my impoverished childhood, had lifted," he writes, describing his transformative experience with ayahuasca in Peru. While Gibson does not recommend psychedelics for everyone, he shares his journey as a way to understand his own healing process.
"I'm not recommending people read this and say, ‘I want to do psychedelics.' I'm just basically saying this was my journey." Gibson says he hopes his story will shine a light on the pressures and mental health struggles faced by those in the TV news industry, where public personas often conceal personal pain.
A Call For Greater Mental Health Awareness
Gibson's memoir offers a candid look at the toll of a career in TV journalism, but it also serves as a call for more openness about mental health in the industry. "We are pretty much like anybody else," he says. "We are still fighting and struggling and wrestling with personalities and with stress and dealing with anxiety."
Gibson's message resonates beyond the newsroom, reminding us that even those we see on TV deal with the same pressures and mental health challenges as everyone else.
Cover image: Jozef Klopacka / Shutterstock
