‘Illicit drugs’ and mental health treatment: all we are asking for is hope
Canberra Times, April 22, 2021
“I am writing this as a mother, in the hope that my words may open the closed minds of our politicians and the authorities we rely upon to ensure every Australian has access to the latest medical therapies.” – Annie Mason
The Weekly With Charlie Pickering
The Weekly With Charlie Pickering, April 21, 2021
Feature on psychedelics in Australia, Mind Medicine Australia and the TGA.
MDMA and magic mushrooms reconsidered for rescheduling by Therapeutic Goods Administration
Canberra Times, April 18, 2021
An application to make MDMA and psilocybin more easily accessible to psychiatrists for mental health treatments will now be independently reviewed following an earlier rejection.
It’s about patient choice says Tasmanian doctor who believes magic mushrooms and MDMA can help treat depression and PTSD
The Advocate, March 25, 2021
A Tasmanian doctor says the state’s mental health crisis would be greatly assisted by MDMA and psilocybin assisted therapies, especially for emergency responders impacted by trauma and those with treatment-resistant illness.
Psychedelic therapy: Air force veteran’s wild journey back from the abyss
News.com.au, March 18, 2021
After 16-and-a-half years in the air force, Michael Raymond had seen it all. But by repressing his feelings, he began to push himself down a dark path. His mental health began to deteriorate even further and he was placed on suicide watch. Ultimately, Michael was healed through psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Government commits $15m for psychedelic drug therapy trials
ABC PM with Linda Mottram, March 18, 2021
The federal government has committed $15 million for the development of psychedelic drug therapies for mental illness. In clinical trials around the world, MDMA, magic mushrooms and ketamine are showing promising results in treating PTSD and depression. Advocacy groups have welcomed the trials but want the prohibited drugs reclassified so they can be used more readily for psycho-therapy.
The Admiral and the Ecstasy
ABC Conversations, March 18, 2021
Chris Barrie is convinced that the Australian Government should legalise the clinical use of specific psychedelics to help veterans recovering from trauma.
Australian government backs psychedelic drug clinical trials to treat mental illness
The Guardian, March 18, 2021
$15m grant comes despite TGA’s failure to reschedule MDMA and psilocybin from a prohibited substance to a controlled medicine
Former trade minister Andrew Robb supports psychedelic medicines
9 News, March 17, 2021
The use of psilocybin, MDMA and other psychedelic medicines to treat mental illness will soon undergo clinical trials funded by the federal government. It’s backed by former Trade Minister Andrew Robb but not all psychiatrists are convinced.
‘Better treatments’: Government to fund psychedelic drugs trials to treat mental illness
Sydney Morning Herald, March 17, 2021
Clinical trials using psilocybin, MDMA and other psychedelic medicines in potential breakthrough therapies for debilitating mental illnesses will be funded by the federal government as part of global efforts to advance innovative treatments.
Australian War Memorial expansion better invested in psychedelic-assisted therapies research
Canberra Times, March 14, 2021
ACT pill testing advocate David Caldicott has voiced disgust over the $500 million expansion of the Australian War Memorial he said the federal government had “inflicted” on the city, while emerging treatments for post traumatic stress disorder were deemed too hard.
Report with Leigh Sales interviewing Andrew Robb AO, Dr Stuart Saker and more
ABC 7.30, March 11, 2021
Leigh Sales interviewing Andrew Robb AO, psychiatrist Dr Stuart Saker and patient on psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat mental illness. The segment commences at 21:45
When pills stopped working, Andrew Robb looked to magic mushroom therapy
ABC News, March 11, 2021
When his daily pile of antidepressant pills stopped working, former Liberal Party director and trade minister Andrew Robb began researching psychedelic therapy as an option to send his depression into remission.
Andrew Robb interviewed by James Valentine, ABC Radio Sydney
Afternoons, March 11, 2021
The interview commences at 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Suicide warning over denied drugs
The Australian, March 9, 2021
Delaying mental practitioners access to psilocybin and MDMA could result in a spike in suicides amid an ongoing national mental health crisis, according to advocates for psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Demand For Psychedelics On The Up
AJP, March 5, 2021
Results from the latest Global Drug Survey, released on Friday, reveal that more people including Australians are turning to psychedelic medicines to self-treat mental illness and emotional distress.
Former Defence chief calls for rescheduling of psychedelic drugs to treat mental illness, PTSD
ABC News, March 4, 2021
Chris Barrie, a former chief of the Defence Force says psychedelic drugs such psilocybin and MDMA should be rescheduled so they can be used to treat mental health conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Medicinal ecstasy, magic mushrooms for veterans with PTSD blocked by TGA
The Daily Telegraph, February 17, 2021
Medical health specialists have slammed the blocking of medically prescribed psychedelic drugs, including ecstasy, shown to successfully treat PTSD in war veterans.
Health Psychiatrists split over the use of ’shrooms and MDMA to treat mental illness
Crikey, February 12, 2021
The peak body for psychiatrists — whose submission influenced the TGA’s scheduling decision — has come under fire for its conservative position on psychedelics.
An Intro to Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy with MMA’s Co-founder Tania De Jong
Is That Soh Podcast, February 12, 2021
Today on the podcast, I have invited award-winning social entrepreneur and co-founder of Mind Medicine Australia, Tania de Jong, to come on the show and talk to us about the power of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies to treat a wide range of mental illnesses.