Psychedelic therapy with mushrooms gains ground in Australia for depression
Australia restarted legal psychedelic medicine use in 2024, decades after stopping research.
A new book by Melbourne journalist Rich Haridy looks at Australia's unusual role in psychedelic science over 70 years. Governments banned psychedelics and research in the 1960s and 1970s.
Australia was one of the last to stop research. Australia was also one of the first to restart legal use as medicine in 2024.
Researchers are testing whether LSD, psilocybin and MDMA can help depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies found psychedelics reduced death anxiety in terminally ill patients.
Quality of life and spiritual wellbeing improved. The drugs work as tools that support psychotherapy, not as treatments on their own.
- Rich Haridy
- Author
- Melbourne
- Author location
- 2024
- Legal restart year
- 70 years
- Timespan examined
Why it mattersResearch shows psychedelics may help depression, anxiety and end-of-life distress. But they are tools to support therapy, not a substitute for it. They can be unpredictable.
AustraliaAustralia is now at the forefront of legal psychedelic medicine research and trials for depression and trauma.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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