Research on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for mental illness in Australia is trailing world leaders in the field, such as the UK and US. But not-for-profit charity Mind Medicine Australia is working towards the establishment of “regulatory-approved and researched-backed” psychedelic-assisted therapy, which it hopes will provide another option for patients who have not responded to traditional therapies.

Siobhan Calafiore, from Psychiatry Update, spoke with Mind Medicine Australia co-founder and social entrepreneur Tania de Jong.

Psychiatry Update: What is the current status of psychedelic therapy in Australia?

Tania de Jong: Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is currently illegal in Australia outside of an authorised trial. However, these therapies have ‘breakthrough therapy’ status from the Food and Drug Administration in the US. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is in trials for PTSD, while psilocybin-assisted therapy [is in trials] for treatment-resistant depression and major depression.