A STUDENT has received international recognition for a radio documentary which shares the stories of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Naomi Mackenzie, of Darlington, won a silver in the New York Festival’s International Radio Programme Awards after being shortlisted alongside finalists from Egypt, Hong Kong and the USA.
The 24-year-old drew attention to the work carried out by the Help for Heroes recovery centre Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison in her documentary The Long Road to Recovery. Created as part of a university project, it features revealing conversations with interviewees and was partly inspired by the military experience of Miss Mackenzie’s father, Stuart, who served as chief warrant officer in the Army and was also a paratrooper.
She said: “For me, the aim of my documentary was get people in the military talking openly about their experiences and I feel that is exactly what I’ve achieved. A report in 2016 stated that 75 per cent of veterans suffer from PTSD and so facilities like Phoenix House are crucial in helping them and their families.”
Phoenix House supports military personnel and veterans who have service-related wounds, illness or injury, plus their families, through a variety of means, including courses, career advice and psychological wellbeing activities.
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