The End in Mind conference will bring together celebrities, healthcare and psychedelics experts and policy makers to explore the role that psychedelics can play in the end-of-life experience.
The event will discuss a number of different topics including psychedelic medicines and their uses, from age-old Indigenous practices to the latest clinical trials; the current and future role of psychedelics in care for serious illness, grief, and end-of-life experience; the science behind psychedelics and their potential to help treat mental, physical, and social conditions; stigmas surrounding the consumption of psychedelic substances; the policy landscape and emerging market for psychedelic medicines; and the growing movement to broaden access to these treatments.
Hosted by non-profit End Well, which is dedicated to the belief that all people should experience the end of life in a way that matches their values and goals, is the largest mainstream gathering to date dedicated to the future of psychedelic medicines in care for people facing serious illness or end of life.
GRAMMY® winner Melissa Etheridge, who will be speaking at the conference, said: “Finally, we seem to be moving past the stigma around plant medicines, and into a whole new era of understanding that will hopefully enable more of us to experience the benefits of these powerful medicines — especially in the most dire times of need when we are confronting illness, grief, mortality, existential fear, and death.”
Exploring psychedelics for end of life care
The End in Mind conference will bring together celebrities such as Dream Corps founder Van Jones, and healthcare, policy, culture, business and psychedelic leaders including American drug reformist and MAPS founder Rick Doblin.
Other speakers include Stephen Ross, MD, psychiatrist, psychedelics researcher, and associate director of NYU Langone’s Center for Psychedelic Medicine; Ira Byock, MD, a leading palliative care physician and advocate for improving care through the end of life; Patricia James, Cheyenne pipe carrier and priest; Claire Bidwell Smith, an American therapist and best-selling author who specialises in grief therapy; and many more.
“Psychedelics could be a paradigm shift in modern medicine, creating new possibilities that go beyond current treatments for life-limiting illness and allow people to live well until the end,” said Dr Shoshana Ungerleider, MD, founder of End Well.
“Research indicates that when used in a carefully controlled and monitored environment, these medicines can offer a more person-centered, inclusive, and empathetic model for care for people facing the end of life — and that is something every one of us should be thinking about. The End in Mind will bring together many of the people and ideas shaping the future of this space, and make the promises and perils of these therapies accessible to a broader audience so as to spark meaningful conversations about what it means to end well.”
The speakers will lead interactive breakout sessions to answer questions and provide a deeper dive into the cultural, regulatory, and industry shifts shaping and being shaped by the psychedelic landscape.
Backed by leaders in psychedelics
The event is sponsored by leading companies in the psychedelics space, including: Palo Santo, a US-based psychedelic investment fund; Reset Pharma, which is advancing psilocybin therapy for patients with cancer and other life-threatening diagnosis; biotechnology company Cybin, the first psychedelics company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange; atai Life Sciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to transform the treatment of mental health disorders; and Microdose, a media platform with a vision to shift the world’s perception of psychedelic medicine.
“It’s becoming increasingly clear that psychedelics are poised to change the field of mental health, and we are thrilled to be partners with the leading innovators in the space,” said Daniel Goldberg, co-founder and partner of Palo Santo.
“As these medicines are increasingly destigmatised, medicalised and legalised, the time is right to invest in the future of this space and create broad access to effective treatments. From entrepreneurs to investors to practitioners to patients, we all have a role to play in realising the potential of psychedelics in healthcare.”
Doug Drysdale, CEO of Cybin, commented: “There is compelling research going back to the 1950s that psychedelic medicines can reduce pain and distress for people who are suffering.
“The End in Mind is focused on translating the research for a general audience, to make more people aware of the evidence base supporting these therapies and the recent advances in drug development and delivery.”
“For a variety of mental disorders affecting millions worldwide, the current standard of care simply isn’t adequate enough. Innovation is greatly needed – and psychedelics could play a substantial role in revolutionizing mental healthcare” added Florian Brand, CEO of atai.
“However, to effectively communicate and integrate these medicines in the public domain, we must engage all stakeholders and foster the sort of dialogues organised by End Well.”
The free, virtual event will be open to the public and will take place on Thursday, 14 October from 11:45am to 5:00pm EDT/8:45am to 2:00pm PDT. Registration is free until 26 September.
To register for the event visit: endwellproject.org
