Devastating mental health conditions are plaguing the medical world. And although more and more research is being conducted to uncover the effects of psychedelics on the mind, much more time, patience, and money are needed to make this a reality. Fortunately, governments are now on board with this effort. In Australia, no less than $15 million—about €10 million—has been allocated to research psychedelic drugs and mental health issues.
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Mental illness: a massive problem
The funding, which was announced this week, is intended to kickstart research into the use of innovative therapies to combat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive disorders, addictions, and eating disorders. Every year, an estimated four million Australians develop a mental health condition, and nearly half of all Australians are affected at some point in their lives.
The most common mental health conditions are anxiety disorders—which affect more than 14 percent of adults each year—as well as conditions such as depression and alcohol and drug abuse. In addition, about 12 percent of all Australians are expected to experience PTSD at some point in their lives. At the same time, many of the standard treatments for these conditions vary widely in effectiveness and recovery rates, and little progress has been made in pharmaceutical discoveries in recent years.
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Promising studies
Strong evidence of the potential power of psychedelic substances has now prompted the Australian government to do more to investigate the true nature of these remarkable substances, such as psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms and magic truffles) and MDMA, also known as ecstasy. For now, there is no concrete, approved evidence that these substances help with mental health issues, but preliminary studies are certainly promising when used in a controlled environment and supported by psychological or psychiatric care.
Magic mushrooms had previously been granted “breakthrough therapy” status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depressive disorders. Health Minister Greg Hunt says the $15 million grant, provided under the Medical Research Future Fund, will help ensure that Australia’s medical research leads the way in global innovation.
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‘Extremely encouraging’
“The initial results from studies in Australia and internationally are extremely encouraging, but more research is urgently needed before these approaches can be used by psychiatrists outside of controlled clinical trials,” Hunt said. “It is vital that we continue to support the search for new and better treatments for mental health conditions.”
“This funding opportunity will stimulate local research into potentially life-saving therapies and offers hope for everyone suffering from a mental illness, including our veterans and first responders who face the devastating consequences of PTSD,” said Hunt. “The prevalence and impact of mental illness are devastating for individuals, families, and communities,” said David Coleman, the Premier’s Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
