NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk for mental health advice. Psychedelic assisted therapies remain an ongoing field of study with important safety and ethical considerations. Experiments discussed in this talk should not be performed outside of accredited research settings. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfWorldwide, about one-third of people with mental health disorders do not respond to available treatments. Even successful psychotherapy takes time, and medications often come with side effects.Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) introduces a new paradigm for interventions, facilitating rapid changes that can be sustained through psychotherapy. This approach may reduce or even eliminate the need for lifelong daily medication in treating common mental health disorders. MAT also offers hope to those who have not responded to standard treatments. In specialized clinical settings, both natural and synthetic psychedelic drugs can be combined with psychotherapy. Studies suggest that these therapies enhance brain flexibility, promote nerve cell growth, and deepen connectedness to oneself and others.The wisdom of indigenous healers has guided the discovery of these medicines and should continue to inform safe and respectful practices for their use. Dr. Sanjay Rao is an accomplished psychiatrist and Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada. He is also an Additional Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NovaScotia. Dr. Rao has an extensive background in psychiatry, having worked and trained in India, the UK, and Canada. In 2011, Dr Rao earned his MBA from Durham University.His specialization is in cognitive behavioural therapies and treating mood and anxiety disorders. In 2007, he received an honour at the UK Prime Minister's reception, and in 2018, he was awarded a fellowship by the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies.Dr. Rao is also the Director of a multidisciplinary clinic, CMAP Health, and the Unified CBT Academy. He has a research team specialising in publishing systematic reviews of evidence in mental health care. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx