Psychedelics: Stepping into the Unknown

Until the recent TGA announcement granting limited approval for psychedelic treatments for mental illness, there have been no major innovations in medical treatments for major mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, PTSD and OCD in 50 years. More than ever before mental health is now a crisis worldwide, and new treatments are urgently required.

Clinically prescribed psychedelics and MDMA (ecstasy), accompanied by psychotherapy and other innovative applications, have the potential to radically improve the treatment available for mental health conditions, and to save and improve lives. The clinical trials at Monash University are rigorous and defined by a dedicated duty of care to the participants. The scientists are optimistic that the outcomes of the trials may result in an innovative and powerful new range of treatments that will have a profound effect on the lives of those suffering mental ill health.

Our vision is to cut through both the stigma and the current hype surrounding psychedelics, and other drugs such as MDMA, to explore whether the groundbreaking clinical trials being conducted by Monash University have the potential to radically change medical treatment for major mental health conditions, and improve and save lives around the world.

– Record the individual experiences of the participants in the clinical trials
– Document the clinical trial process, the scientific and ethical considerations and the experiences of the therapists
– Interview and learn from those at the cutting edge of developing potential psychedelic and other treatments for mental health conditions worldwide
– Reveal the available outcomes of the trials at a clinical level to a broad general audience
– Raise awareness and understanding of potentially groundbreaking new treatments for mental health conditions
– Reach a broad audience via broadcaster SBS and film festivals worldwide.

The major project partner is Monash University where the clinical trials are taking place. We were given full access during the period of filming the documentary.

We hope that viewers will be inspired to learn more about the potential for psychedelics and other drugs such as MDMA in treatments for mental health conditions, and to potentially lobby government for the decriminalisation of such drugs for medical purposes for mental health conditions.