Psychedelics and mental health: hype, hope, and healing?

There is growing interest in the use of psychedelics and their potential to help with problems that affect mental health. From depression and anxiety to trauma and addiction, psychedelic-assisted therapy is being explored – albeit in research settings – as a new way to support emotional healing and wellbeing. But what does the science really say? And what actually happens in psychedelic therapy?

Professor Sara Tai will describe psychedelic-assisted therapy, explaining how it works, what makes it different from other mental health interventions, and what is known so far about its benefits and risks.

Professor Tai is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Manchester and Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

We will discover how psychedelics have the potential to offer a paradigm shift within how we think about mental health. Rather than being a quick fix, this approach encourages people to explore their thoughts and emotions in a deeper way.

Whether you’re curious, hopeful, or simply skeptical, this is a chance to learn more about a fascinating area of mental health research that could change the way we think about healing. This is not a talk about another drug-based ‘silver bullet’, but an opportunity to step outside the pillbox and learn just how much the mind can do for itself.