James Scurry

MA BA UKCP ACPP

Newsroom Mental Health Support

I offer newsroom mental health consultancy providing a comprehensive evaluation of existing mental health support within news organisations.

I’m the Co-founder and Co-director of Safely Held Spaces, an organisation which designs and deliver trauma-informed journalism and emotionally intelligent newsroom training, developed in collaboration with journalists, newsroom leaders, mental health professionals and people with lived experience in Britain, Europe, the United States and Canada.

I also organise and produce news industry mental health events, including conferences, team-building away days, and retreats tailored for journalists and newsroom leaders.

Where appropriate, I can facilitate specialist trauma-informed therapy referrals for journalists experiencing mental and emotional distress or crises, including post-traumatic stress, anxiety, panic attacks, psychosis, and voice-hearing experiences.

A bit about my career as a journalist.

I have nearly twenty years experience working across television news, radio, and print for leading international media organisations, including Sky News, Al Jazeera English, ITV and Channel Nine News Australia. I have spoken at industry mental health events at the BBC, Reuters, and Sky News, as well as conferences including Newrewired and The Disability Journalism Forum. I train and mentor early career journalists and advise the board of the UK-based charity The John Schofield Trust, which supports diversity and social mobility in journalism.

I am also a co-organiser of the MediaStrong Symposium at City St George’s, University of London, one of the UK’s largest mental health conferences for the news industry. The symposium examines the challenges facing journalists and media workers, and explores how a deeper understanding of trauma can lead to more accurate, ethical and informed reporting; greater sensitivity towards those we report on; and healthier newsroom cultures in which journalists, media workers, and the industry as a whole can thrive.

Get in touch

To arrange an initial phone call please submit this form or email me: james@jcstherapy.org