Canberra Skeptics proudly presents:

Psychedelic-assisted therapies for mental illness: why innovation in treatment is needed now more than ever

Date: Tuesday, 15 February 2022Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Speakers: Tania de Jong AM, Dr Jennifer Loughnan

Please register via Demio
(https://my.demio.com/ref/JNkiRnu0JqnO8GuS)

Pre-Covid 1 in 5 people in Australia were suffering from a mental illness. At least 1 in 8 adults, 1 in 4 older adults in 1 in 30 children are on anti-depressant medications currently, and often without disclosure of potential side effects. There has been no innovation in existing treatments for 5 decades. The lack of effective treatments has most certainly contributed to Australia’s devastating mental health statistics, which position Australia as second worst amongst all OECD nations, only ahead of Iceland. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic many, more Australians are experiencing anxiety, trauma, addiction, depression, loneliness, and social isolation, and suicide rates could significantly increase in the absence of innovation in treatments.

In the quest for new treatment options for mental illness, attention is being paid to the potential role of psychedelic medicines as adjuncts to psychotherapy for a wide array of conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and some addictions. Trials are also underway for dementia, Parkinson’s, strokes, cluster headaches, OCD, and eating disorders. A proactive approach to broadening the treatment options available for people who have a mental illness is desperately needed. This keynote and Q & A are presented by Mind Medicine Australia. The session will provide an engaging and educational update incorporating new learnings, science, and data about innovative, safe, and effective treatments being used in a practical clinical setting. It will also provide information on how to access the TGA’s SAS-B pathway for psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapies for treatment-resistant patients on a case-by-case basis.

Tania de Jong AM is the Co-Founder and Executive Director Mind Medicine Australia, Creativity Australia, Creative Universe, and The Song Room.

Dr Jennifer Loughman is a local GP, who has worked in multiple GP clinics in Canberra plus Indigenous communities around the country, as well as less common gigs such as prisons and quarantine facilities, and her own occupational health clinic.

This event was made possible by a generous grant from Australian Skeptics Inc.
Questions can be sent via Demio or emailed to canberraskeptics@gmail.com.

Canberra Skeptics Inc. is a non-profit association incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory for the purpose of promoting critical thinking.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanberraSkeptics/
Twitter: @cbrskepticsEvent announcements:
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/SocialSkepticsCanberra/Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/canberra-skeptics-1862845876