Breakthroughs in Mental Health; Psychedelic 2.0 Gathering

June 13th, 2022

The Need

According to a report released by the United Nations in May 2020, stress and anxiety levels have dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and since the original findings, the world has been effected by many following waves of varying degrees.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

Whenever people are unable to cope with life's stresses, mental health issues arise and the past couple of years have certainly served as a catalyst for most of us.

According to a study published in The Lancet in 2019, 12.5% of the global population will experience mental health issues at some point in their lives, a number which increased dramatically in a more recent report from the WHO, of March 2022, now estimating that number to be 25%.

The beginning of the pandemic appears to have had the greatest impact on mental health. A report from the European Parliament Research Service highlighted increases in mental health concerns in many European countries at this time.

Eight out of 10 people in Italy reported a need for psychological care; in the Netherlands, over a third of the population reported anxiety.

Similar patterns became evident in the United States. In a study of people aged 18-35, 80% of survey respondents reported significant depressive symptoms, while 61% reported moderate or severe anxiety.

In April 2021, the National Institute of Mental Health reported that rates for anxiety, depression, stress-related symptoms, substance misuse, and suicidal thoughts were almost double those expected before the pandemic.

However, concerns that suicide rates might rise appear to have been unfounded as, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) these have fallen slightly.

According to a report released by the United Nations in May 2020, stress and anxiety levels have dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and since the original findings, the world has been effected by many following waves of varying degrees.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

Whenever people are unable to cope with life's stresses, mental health issues arise and the past couple of years have certainly served as a catalyst for most of us.

These challenges aren't insurmountable.

THE WALDEN GATHERING Searched to answer questions:

What Is Mental Health?

What Is Affecting Mental Health?

What Are We Doing?

What Can Be Done?

What Can We Do For Ourselves?

What Can We Do For Each Other?

A Sustainable World, Created Through Collaboration

Creating a world that values purpose, productivity and preference isn't something that can happen overnight. It will require not only hard work and perseverance, but also a deeply rooted collaboration with organizations who value the possibility of a better tomorrow over the profits of today.

setting the tone through INTRODUCTIONS

We started the day with a rigorous networking hike around the Walden property. A steady uphill climb among the leafy coastal oaks, let us breathe and introduce ourselves in a relaxed style as a group of individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields joined the discussions.

Common Threads in Shared Stories

“We use a design-thinking format around the table, walking discussions on nature trails, and guided meditation to inspire the group to solve big problems. Instead of the hyper-intense networking of your typical conference, participants spend the entire day outside with a carefully curated small and diverse group of people.”

After the Gathering intro, members presented current issues, focused on:

History

Nature

Self

Desire

During these discussions, participants break up into groups to increase contributions and engagement. Topics are addressed, opinions are shared and summaries are presented to all.

Key Themes

Nature is an important need for many and vital in keeping us emotionally, psychologically and physically healthy.

When it comes to mental health benefits, nature has a very wide definition. It can mean green spaces such as parks, woodland or forests as well as blue spaces like rivers, wetlands, beaches or canals. It also includes trees on an urban street, private gardens, verges and even indoor plants or window boxes. Surprisingly, even watching nature documentaries has been shown to be good for our mental health. This is great news as it means the mental health benefits of nature can be made available to nearly every one of us, no matter where we live.

Spending time in nature is good for us for lots of reasons. “Fresh air and exercise” has long been recommended as a way for many to feel better, physically and mentally.

Now evidence shows us that the quality of our relationship with nature is part of the reason for its positive impact on our wellbeing. Researchers use the term “connectedness” to describe the ideal relationship.

Connectedness refers to the way we relate to nature and experience nature. A strong connection with nature means feeling a close relationship or an emotional attachment to our natural surroundings.

There are ways that we can develop our connectedness with nature. Activities that involve the senses can help to develop our connection with the natural world, as can activities where we feel emotions such as compassion, perceive beauty or find meaning in nature.

For instance, we might notice the beauty of nature by listening intently to birdsong or touching the bark of trees. Smelling flowers or feeling the soil between our fingers whilst planting bulbs in the garden are also highly sensual ways to connect with nature. We don’t always have to be in nature to further our relationship with the natural world: writing a poem about our favourite nature spot or reflecting on preferred walks help us consciously notice, consider and pause to appreciate the good things in nature.

When was the last time you:

1. Connected with yourself?

2. Connected with your community?

3. Connected with Nature?

Connecting With Yourself

Information overload is a reality that we live in these days. As a nation, we are surrounded by a myriad of things on television and the Internet.

We are primed to think certain thoughts and take certain actions through all the ads we see and all the magazines we read, as these are carefully designed by researchers. There is one thing that all these elements are designed to do: influence our minds. A particular color, a particular tone in the voice, a particular movement of the eyes.

Our reactions are so powerful that their effects are so profound we feel that we even think of them as our own thoughts, and that the decisions we make in response seem reasonable.

The daily temptation of spending our time or money on something we may not need is obliging us to do so on a daily basis. There are some thoughts that are so carefully planted in us that we feel as if we are denying something more important than ourselves. And why not? There is a primal desire in all of us to gain power, sex, influence, and to be admired. This is evident all around us and is a direct result of a primal desire.

The next gadget we're going to buy, the next movie we're going to watch, the next television series we're going to watch, we're always looking forward to it. We seem not to care about the fact that we consume information and material possessions at an alarming rate. In our opinion, there is no such thing as too much entertainment and information when it comes to information and entertainment.

We also use social media in order to connect with people and remain in touch with them. The food we cook, and even the pictures of our family, are things we want to share with you.

As a result of being able to send out a daily status update, we feel more secure about the way we see ourselves and what we offer. Whenever we hear that someone confirms that we are living a good life with a "like" on social media, we know we are doing well. In many cases, social validation drives people to share information at the expense of real feelings, and I believe that recognizing this is essential.

There is often a constant external search for approval, and that is often what is responsible for our failure to seek approval from within. Our tendency is to ask others about how they see us, and we become unable to see our own reality for what it is. As long as they tell us that we are doing the right thing, then we must be doing the right thing. If not, we are not so sure.

It has resulted in the fact that there is no longer any time for reflection or pondering. It is only occasionally that we can turn inwards, and that we feel emptiness and fear, when we have taken that step. Since we do not know what to do with this emptiness, we tend to seek external sources of satisfaction in order to fill that need.

There is something important about that emptiness. We need to accept that it is a signal that we are no longer connected to our true identities. As a result of this connection, we often find ourselves in uncomfortable and painful situations in our lives.

Community

Other people play an important role in our wellbeing both mentally and physically. According to research, making connections with others and forming good relationships - with friends, family, and the wider community - are essential to maintaining good mental health.

A strong network of social connections can increase your feelings of self-worth and happiness, so establishing stronger social connections in your life can give you a boost. In most cases, we would like to spend more time with the people that are important to us. Unfortunately, because of our hectic lives, it is sometimes very difficult to do so.

Nevertheless, research has shown that the health and well-being of both our physical and mental wellbeing are affected by our relationships. We can define mental wellbeing as feeling good about ourselves and our world as well as functioning well mentally.

We can increase our happiness and security by nurturing our relationships, and we can gain a greater sense of purpose by doing so. We can all improve our mental wellbeing by investing in relationships, which is one of the five evidence-based steps we can take. 

How relationships can help

Our species is a social animal, and our bonds, connections, and relationships with others are of paramount importance to us as human beings.

In several studies, it has been suggested that good relationships are associated with positive mental health. A study in the USA conducted in 2002 of students showed that the students who were the happiest among the group had stronger social relationships than the students who were less happy.

The ability to share our feelings with family and friends, and know that we are understood, would be brought about by strong relationships with them. In addition to providing us an opportunity to share our positive experiences, they can provide us with emotional support, as well as the opportunity to support others.

In addition to giving to others, giving gives us a sense of wellbeing

We need relationships in order to feel like we belong to the world and that we hold value. Furthermore, there's evidence that wellbeing can be passed on through relationships, so that being around people who are in good mental health can make your own mental wellbeing stronger.

Connect for mental wellbeing

When it comes to wellbeing, other people matter. Evidence shows that connecting with others and forming good relationships – with family, friends and the wider community – are important for mental wellbeing.

Build relationships for wellbeing

It is good for your health as well as the health of the other people you are involved with to take time to build and enlarge your relationships.

In order to build healthy relationships, it is essential to:

Making a point of strengthening your relationships with people who are close to you, such as family and friends.

It is important to expand your community relationships as well as your global connections.

To strengthen and build a closer relationship, there are numerous aspects that can be taken into consideration:

Don't forget to spend time with your family every day. Depending on your schedule, it might be that you set aside a small amount of "family time" each day or that you find time around other commitments.

Get together with old friends you haven't seen in a while for a day of fun.

If you want to spend some time with your family or friends, turn off the TV and play a game, or talk with them.

Make contact with someone else; it's a great way to start the day.

Take a colleague out to lunch.

If you know someone who needs your support or company, arrange to see them.

Join an organization that helps schools, hospitals, or community groups in your area. As you give of yourself, you will also be contributing to others' success.

If you live in a major city, you can likely find a "meetup" that you are interested in. Book clubs, walking groups, craft groups, men's sheds and even simple social gatherings take place in most major towns.

Nature

As well as the physical benefits of going outside, there can be many other reasons for one to want to go outside, such as mental and emotional ones. It might be that you seek the peaceful and calming effect of being near greenery or that you want to feel anchored to the ground at all times by feeling your two feet firm on the ground. The feeling of seeking something from nature can be quite personal - the thing we look to gain from it - and depending on the moment, you may look for different things as you enter the natural world.

However, in order to really reap the benefits of the great outdoors in terms of our mental health, perhaps we should factor that into our intentions more often. According to some expert opinions, the quality of our interactions with nature rather than the amount of time we spend outside is the most important factor (when it comes to our mental health).

In the western world, more and more research is being conducted to demonstrate that any opportunity to live near nature is good for our health and well-being. There is also increasingly clear evidence demonstrating that a feeling of being more connected to nature has health benefits associated with it. A psychological construct known as nature connectedness refers to our realizing our place within nature, and how connected we are to it. Several other components of nature connectedness include our emotional response to nature, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. A connection with nature is not only associated with the ability to feel good and function well, but it is also associated with many other positive outcomes, including higher life satisfaction, more meaningful lives, happiness, freedom, creativity, pro-social behavior, and pro-nature behavior. According to research, mindfulness is a mediator between nature connection and wellbeing, and research has found that mindfulness mediates this relationship.

As a result of this connection with nature, people who enjoy spending time in the wilderness are more likely to enjoy nature, and therefore experience the many other benefits that come from exposure to nature. The reason why spending time outdoors has such a profound impact on physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing has been hypothesized, both in the research literature and in traditional meditation literature. The soft fascination of nature is said to facilitate the process of becoming attentive to the environment in nature, causing people to intentionally or unintentionally become calm and restful. Nature can also be used for the purposes of contemplation, understanding and learning. Our senses evolved to be able to perceive and comprehend the world around us, therefore, this seems to be logical. It is true that this theory is a good introduction to the understanding of nature's restorative benefits, but it is based on the notion that nature most often offers rest when we are fatigued and emphasizes the short-term benefits. The benefits of the environment are now being explained more thoroughly, so as to include how keeping the balance between our emotions, the nervous system, the body and our organs, such as the heart, is all part of the process of regulating our emotions. As a result, nature seems to be able to contribute to the development of both joy and calm, two different aspects of happiness. A few studies have provided some support for this hypothesis, showing that simply touching wood or viewing an image of a rose for just three minutes can induce physiological changes that are beneficial. Given the supporting evidence and assumptions of this model, and considering the traditional meditation literature refers to the fact that the human body is composed of the elements of water, wind, earth, and fire (i.e., heat), it is perhaps plausible that being closer to these elements through having the opportunity to spend time in nature at times helps both the body and mind to be in a balanced state.

There have been western health models that have tended to segregate people from their environment and therefore place health in the context of the individual. The argument has however been made that our body, senses, and emotions are continuously interacting with the natural environment through two-way chemical and electromagnetic interactions. In other words, a rigid conception of self would inhibit our ability to communicate with, and benefit from, nature as nature changes and as nature changes, our relationship with it changes as well. In the biomedical model of medicine, the individual is considered abnormal when he or she departs from "normal" normality. It can be argued that the biopsychosocial theory is more comprehensive due to it advocating the interconnectedness of the mind and body, where psychological, biological, and social factors are all influential. Perhaps there is scope for developing a health model that includes a "mind-body-nature" or "biopsychophysis" component, which recognizes the association between psychological, biological, and environmental factors.

Synopsis

It is no wonder that in just a short span of time, the pandemic has made us more aware of the vulnerability of our mental health. By standing at the intersection of our physical health and external circumstances, we have seen that circumstance and challenges have the potential to change our moods and behaviors very quickly, and we have also noticed how resilient and strong our minds can actually be.

The most important thing to note is that we are now witnessing a shift in the way we think about mental health. It's finally becoming more evident in society that mental health and its treatment are taking more of a front seat when it comes to the seriousness of the issue.

Moving forward, at least some of these considerations will allow us to fully understand the human experience, how we relate to each other and the exciting strides being made in treatment and research.

We may wonder where we're going next in the field of mental health care since the field is constantly changing. In order to move forward in a world where stigma is reduced, more understanding is shared and fewer barriers to care are erected, we ask: how should mental health care develop in the future?

Therapy

As a result of pandemic restrictions, most daily activities were forced to be conducted online, including therapy sessions as well. Thousands of people are now accustomed to attending appointments in a remote location, while others sought help for the first time.

Providing therapy electronically has not only increased the accessibility of counseling in certain situations, but a study has also found that it is just as effective as providing in-person counseling1. So this trend may last for a while.

“People aren’t returning to the couch.... Covid-19 dramatically affected the practice of talk therapy by incorporating wide scale adoption of technology. Many clinicians have made the choice to continue treating people remotely. Now that telehealth has taken off, there’s no going back.” - Priya Singhvi, LPC

A leading therapist and director of clinical operations at Rey, an online mental health platform that uses virtual reality to treat phobias, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and PTSD, Singhvi works with phobias, social anxiety, and PTSD. 

In a telehealth setting, once a patient seeks out this form of treatment, they receive a VR headset and dial into scheduled sessions with their care provider. Patients are then instructed to work through the therapeutic program at their own pace and maintain check-ins with their provider along the way.

Nutrition

We all know food plays an essential role in optimizing our physical and mental health, and while it's common for people to make changes to their diet in the interest of their physical health, we usually overlook the impact of our eating habits on the state of our mental health as well. In the near future, nutrition psychology is poised to make a significant impact on society as a whole.

According to a group of recent studies, there is considerable scientific evidence that suggests a cyclical relationship between the gut and the brain exist. Since both organs can act on the other, it is easy to conclude that what is put in your stomach has a direct impact on your mood, behavior, and mental health.

Nutritional psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, MD, explores the relationship between the gut and the brain in her recent book, "This Is Your Brain on Food," and provides insight into the ways food can help combat conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD and OCD. Although the mainstay of therapy and treatment for these disorders are courses of medication and psychotherapy, neglecting to keep in mind a patient's diet can have devastating effects on their condition.

“The problem is bigger than psychiatry, extending to medicine as a whole,” Naidoo writes. “Despite the huge number of health issues that relate to diet, it may sound farfetched, but many patients don’t hear food advice from their doctors, let alone their psychiatrists.... Nutrition education for doctors is limited.”

Nutritional psychology utilizes food elements to form part of treatment plans with other potential therapeutic modalities, all in the aim of improving mental wellness through a more holistic approach. Even though there is a field for Nutritional Psychology, organizations such as The Center for Nutritional Psychology are actively working on building methodology and developing formalized curriculum for placement in universities within the next ten years.

“In psychiatry, we are finally beginning to talk about the power of food as medicine for mental health,” Naidoo writes.

The New Frontier of Psychedelics

It is virtually impossible to talk about nontraditional therapy or advancements in mental health care without mentioning psychedelic drugs.

In recent years, psychedelic research has taken a hot interest in anxiety and depression research, with positive results showing up in both areas: It has been shown that patients with major depressive disorder have seen their symptoms improve if used with psilocybin5, and some research suggests that MDMA-assisted therapy could be effective in treating chronic PTSD which is severe and disabling6. Other research suggests psychedelics may be effective in treating conditions like disordered eating and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Although psychedelic compounds have been stigmatized over the last century because of the impact of their mind altering properties, many people still remain wary of the widespread psychedelic experience that these drugs can provide. In response to this, there has been an effort to develop treatment methods which offer the same benefits as psychedelic drugs, but without being psychedelic themselves.

This would be a big mistake, according to Brian Pilecki, PhD. Pilecki explains the notion that separating out the drug's physiological components and its psychological components breaks with both conventional conventional science and current scientific consensus that the transformation of consciousness is the key to its therapeutic effects. 

“What we know about psychedelics from clinical research suggests that the subjective experience, including shifts in perception and consciousness, are an important element to the therapeutic outcomes that we are seeing,” Pilecki says.

An ecstatic psychedelic experience, however, can bring those uncomfortable emotions and memories to the surface which ultimately will be a difficult process for a therapist to handle. It is not the goal of this approach to eliminate all negative emotions, but rather to enhance a client's ability to be fully present at all times. 

In most cases, the clinical studies are showing a very promising outcome regarding the use of psychedelics in mental health treatment, but a lot more research needs to be done to better understand them.

WALDEN GATHERINGS ARE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON TALKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS, BUT PUTTING SOLUTIONS INTO ACTION.

While ideas are shared throughout the day, we gather to create change.

In order to improve the world around us, we must not only speak about the issues at hand, but work towards solutions. The point of the discussions is to establish the framework for identifying and understanding the problems.

What follows, is most important.

Emerging Ideas

Communities

Can be virtual, as long as media intake is limited.

How to find & activate community, not instant - Need accessibility & affordability.

Media intake needs to be throttled - cookies / spam can not be the means of affordability.

Aligning Mission, Profit is Enrichment

Nature teaches us patience

Long Horizon

Nature

Wilderness is not controlled, getting out of comfort zone.

Nature + Community for Integration.

Co-existence, Humans + Nature Synergy

Nature Needs to be More Accessible

Don’t mess with nature

Individual

Covid has been a warning shot

Fortify inclusion

Challenge yourself

Create responsible content / engagements

Sound + Sonic Experience

Team

We aim to bring together passionate individuals, groups and organizations to gather, learn and collaborate in small groups on how best to contribute and invest their time, talent and resources to innovative solutions -- and then take them back into the world.   We see everyone who joins as an equal expert at the table because we believe in the wisdom of the crowd to find solutions.
 

Jeff Brothers | Jaene Leonard | Elizabeth Becker | Jared Ficker

David Diamont|Kierstyn Berlin | Rob Lee | Jill Blackford | Adam Nelson

Nick Jekogian | Sylver Quevedo | Leslie Carson Aria | Katya Akodovitch 

John Long | Gabrielle Nayale | Zlata Damarad

David Hahklotubbe | Kelly Ann Callahan | Lorraine Stern

Check Out/ Further reading:

How To Change Your Mind - Netflix Series

Factfullness, by Hans Rolling

Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery

Eyes Wide Open: Overcoming Obstacles and Recognizing Opportunities in a World That Can't See Clearly

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Daniel G. Amen, M.D.

The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle