There is a growing body of research and anecdotal evidence showing the effectiveness of psychedelic assisted therapies for a long list of health conditions including depression, PTSD, OCD, suicidal ideation, anxiety, end-of-life distress, alcohol use disorder and opioid dependence. Through the COVID-19 pandemic the mental health of many Canadians suffered with 40% reporting a decline and 39% of those had no pre-existing mental health condition (Canadian Mental Health Association). It is clear that solutions are needed to support our wellness. With all of the major news outlets publishing stories on psychedelic assisted therapy, there has never been more media attention.
‘Psychedelic’ means “mind-manifesting”. This is a class of substance that is commonly known to cause a person to experience non-ordinary states of consciousness. Simply put, a person experiences the world differently for the duration that the substance is active in their body. These experiences can be significant in disrupting a person’s default state of being and have been shown to leave long-standing effects on the way a person perceives themselves, others and the world. Though side effects are rare, they are significant and important to recognize.
Currently legal access to psychedelic assisted therapy is limited, but there are a growing number of organisations who are working to improve access in Canada, including Therapsil, and the Ketamine Assisted Therapy Association (KATA) of Canada.
The Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada recently put out a request to consider amendments to Bill-22 the criminal code and are collecting signatures in support.
As we move forward in the psychedelic renaissance there is still much work to be done in the areas of education, awareness, sustainability, reciprocity, indigenous wisdom stewardship, ethics, and inclusivity. Happening next week June 20th, 2021 (6-20) is the first inaugural World Psychedelics Day: a bringing together of collaborators to mobilize the psychedelics community to engage, educate, and unite people in recognition of the strides being made in psychedelic research and science. Empower Health Clinic is proud to be a community sponsor of this event!
We hope you will join us there and show your support!
Register here to reserve your spot.
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