Australia begins world-first psychedelic therapy

It’s just over a week since Australia became the first country in the world to classify psychedelics as medicines at a national level. The use of psychedelics to assist with therapy sessions was approved by the country’s traditionally conservative medicines regulator earlier this year. It means psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, can be used for treatment-resistant depression and MDMA, known as ecstasy in tablet form, which will be allowed to be used to treat those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But while many experts and patients are hailing it as a landmark move, some major health organisations have also urged caution. Sara-Jayne Makwala King was in conversation with Marjane Beaugois who says psilocybin helped her treat depression. Beaugois was diagnosed with severe depression in 2017 after the death of her mother and grandmother. Despite the depression persisting for eight months, she was reluctant to take anti-depressants. But when conventional psychotherapy didn't work, she asked her doctor to prescribe anti-depressants, which she said made her suffering "worse".....more