Former World news now Anchor Kendis Gibson has claimed a toxic work environment at ABC News contributed to his suicide attempt in 2018.

As reported by Page Six, Gibson talks about his time at the news station in his new memoir: Five Journeys: A research journey into the areas of mental health, psychedelic healing and lifesaving, where he reveals how he experimented with illegal drugs to combat his mental health issues.

The Belize-born journalist joined ABC News as a correspondent in 2014 and said he initially received a “heartwarming reception” from ABC News Good morning America Hosts: Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan and George Stephanopoulos. Of Roberts’ on-air welcome, Gibson said it was like his “official anointing from the queen of the show.”

However, Gibson said that outside the broadcast, an unnamed black correspondent warned him, “Welcome to Mickey’s Plantation.” When Gibson asked the person to elaborate, he claimed he was told, “You’ll find out.”

“The feeling I got from them was that it was veiled racism and that there was some truth to it,” Gibson said Page six.

Gibson began his career at the network’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. before moving to Los Angeles and later New York, where he eventually took over as head of World news now by TJ Holmes. But it wasn’t until this performance that the mental toll became apparent.

“Nineteen co-hosts over the course of my time there,” Gibson said, referring to the revolving door of on-air talent World news now. “There was already an underlying depression,” he shared, but noted how his time on the show exacerbated his issues.

Despite his requests to leave his desk, Gibson claimed his superiors ignored his requests. Then he began relying on Ambien to cope with insomnia and anxiety while “trying to perform at peak performance… on an overnight (and) daytime show.” It was just a lot and the station wasn’t listening to me at all. “

He also alleged racism, recalling a time when a boss called him to admonish him for wearing jeans on the show. “‘You’re doing TV news now and not going to a rap concert.’ “Never wear jeans again,” Gibson claimed the now-fired manager told him.

“I was so naive… I had rose-colored glasses on. I don’t believe racism exists. I didn’t see all the signs,” he added.

Gibson also believes the same manager attacked him after he helped lead a diversity task force to encourage the hiring of more Black employees in leadership positions. He claimed his performances for GMA dropped from 212 in his first two years to eight after he formed the task force.

On October 12, 2018, Gibson attempted suicide. He revealed how he drank two Ambien with two glasses of Chardonnay and cried himself to sleep. When he woke up hours later, he sent his then-partner a goodbye text and prepared to jump out the kitchen window. But the drugs in his system caused him to fall back to the kitchen floor instead.

He woke up in bed with his best friend Mike Woods looking after him. Woods and others, including World news nowDiane Macedo also staged an intervention. Gibson returned to the desk just hours after his suicide attempt. He also began seeing a therapist, who prescribed him medication for depression and anxiety.

Gibson later left ABC News and landed at MSNBC, but his problems persisted and he began looking into psychedelics to alleviate his mental health issues.

“I set out to write a book about my depression and one thing led to another and it just evolved into different psychedelics helping me,” he said. “I’m not pushing anyone to take psychedelics, but hopefully it opens a conversation and encourages people to explore alternatives.”

Gibson returned to television news as an anchor earlier this year PIX11 news in New York City.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or dial 988. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.