Empowering Minds Podcast: Are Psychedelics the New Frontier in Mental Health? | Episode 11

On 1st July 2023, the Australian medicine regulator granted authorised psychiatrists to prescribe psychedelics (MDMA and psilocybin) for controlled use in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.  This unprecedented move made Australia the first country in the world to legally offer psychedelic substances as a form of mental health support. Whilst this development has generated considerable interest, it has also raised concerns about the potential risks and uncertainties of such practice.   

This podcast episode explores the question: Are psychedelics the new frontier in mental health? The integration of psychedelics into mental health support has recently emerged as a widely discussed and intriguing subject.  It appears that the utilisation of psychedelics has captured both hope and apprehension, sparking diverse opinions and conversations. 

Some individuals have reported profound relief from supervised psilocybin use in the context of psychotherapy. These experiences have kindled discussions about the spiritual and cultural connections various societies have maintained with psychedelics, particularly magic mushrooms, which have been explored independently of Western medical traditions.  The incorporation of psychedelics into the mental health landscape also sparks a debate regarding whether Western medicine and the pharmaceutical industry can genuinely prioritise individual experiences, emotional well-being, desired outcomes, and informed consent over commercial interests. 

Equally important is the consideration that the excitement surrounding psychedelic research might divert attention from addressing the fundamental root causes of global mental health issues.  Factors such as inequalities, discrimination, stigma, underfunded mental health services, and systemic issues that impact long-term well-being may risk being overshadowed by an overemphasis on such treatments.  Focusing primarily on research mostly centred on medication might not align with the goal of providing comprehensive and tailored mental health support. This development could inadvertently shift the focus back to the biomedical model of mental health, rather adopting a broader psychosocial perspective that addresses systemic issues. 

It is essential to provide clarity regarding the background of psychedelics in mental health support, their historical context, potential benefits, as well as the associated risks concerning physical and mental well-being. Exploring the motivations behind this research and contemplating the future of these practices are also essential for an informed discussion.  

This dialogue is not only about upholding people’s right to informed consent but also about fostering a transparent discussion to ensure public health safety. By addressing these facets, we aim to prevent essential considerations from being obscured by partial or misleading information that could influence people’s treatment decisions. Furthermore, a broader conversation is needed to address the ethical and political dimensions associated with introducing new drugs in the mental health field, commercial interests, and their potential impact on people’s daily lives. 

The guests 

• Professor Sara Tai

Sara Tai is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Manchester, a practicing Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Director of the Psychedelic Substances Research Unit at the University of Manchester, and a member of Medical Psychedelics Working Group for Drug Science.  Sara has an international reputation as a researcher, practitioner, trainer, and supervisor of psychological interventions for people who have experienced serious problems affecting their mental health, and their families; including one-to-one interventions, group interventions, and family work. Her research focuses on innovative and effective mental health interventions and she has specific expertise in running clinical trials and experimental research on the science and practice of psychotherapeutic interventions, including understanding key mechanisms of change. Sara is involved in running controlled trials of psychedelic-assisted therapies. Sara pioneered the development of psychedelic-assisted therapy informed by Perceptual Control Theory and has led the development of training programmes for psychedelic therapists, including methods for assessing core competencies and fidelity assessment. 

• Professor Joanna Moncrieff

Joanna Moncrieff is a Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London, and works as a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS in London. She researchers and writes about the over-use and misrepresentation of psychiatric drugs and about the history, politics and philosophy of psychiatry more generally. She led UK government-funded research on reducing and discontinuing antipsychotic drug treatment (the RADAR study), and collaborated on research to support antidepressant discontinuation. In the 1990s she co-founded the Critical Psychiatry Network to link up with other, like-minded psychiatrists. She is the author of numerous papers, and her books include A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs Second Edition (PCCS Books, 2020), The Bitterest Pills: The Troubling Story of Antipsychotic Drugs (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) and The Myth of the Chemical Cure (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009). 

Her website is https://joannamoncrieff.com/, @joannamoncrieff