Rapid and Effective:The Science Behind the Renaissance in MAT | Dr Sanjay Rao | TEDxBermuda
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
More from TED
- 27:02Borderline Personality Disorder through the lens of Evolution & Neuroscience | Valerie Porr | TEDxKIValerie Porr shares her journey from artist to mental health advocate, exploring how personal experience led her to found TARA4BPD. Her talk delves into the biological roots of mental illness, the importance of evidence-based treatments, and how empathy and connection can transform recovery. Valerie Porr began her career as a fashion designer and artist in New York, with work exhibited at institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her focus shifted when a family member was diagnosed with a mental illness, and she realized the significant gaps in research, treatment, and understanding of personality disorders. In response, she founded TARA4BPD in 1995, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocacy, education, and research for Borderline Personality Disorder. Since then, she has worked to improve access to evidence-based treatment, organize conferences, and promote research into new therapeutic approaches, including psychedelics and mentalization-based therapy. Her talk will discuss how a deeper understanding of the biological aspects of mental illness can reduce stigma, inform better treatment, and highlight the role of human connection in recovery. 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
- 17:24How to make educated guesses about what's shaping the future of work | Daniel Kilmister | TEDxUOADiscussing the non-linear paths to career success, emphasizing key principles to manifest whhen navigating jobs that don't exist yet and exploring an uncertain job marketplace. Providing a robust framework for tackling job search and career growth, a critical phase for many. Daniel Kilmister is part of the commercial team at Zeil and a former student at the University of Auckland. He will discuss the non-linear paths to career success, emphasizing key principles to manifest when navigating jobs that don't exist yet and exploring an uncertain job marketplace. Alongside this, Daniel will delve into key career trends derived from research, expanding on "how to make educated guesses about what’s shaping the future of work." His talk will ultimately provide a robust framework for tackling job search and career growth, a critical phase for many. 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
- 12:13Pourquoi le hasard est nécessaire ... | Jean François VEZINA | TEDxSaclayImaginez un monde sans hasard, sans rencontres inattendues. Un monde où tout est planifié, contrôlé. Dans son intervention, Jean-François Vézina, psychologue, auteur et musicien, nous invite à apprivoiser l’inattendu et à réconcilier la recherche de causes avec l’attribution de sens. Avec humour, il démasque le Petit Dictateur en nous et pose une question décisive : à qui ou quoi donnons-nous notre pouvoir quand tout vacille ? Psychologue clinicien à Québec depuis plus de 25 ans, il est doctorant en psychologie à l’Université de Sherbrooke, où il mène une recherche sur le sens des coïncidences en psychothérapie. Auteur de plusieurs ouvrages, dont Les Hasards Nécessaires, il est aussi compositeur de musique électronique. 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
- 12:15The University of Whispers | Omar Alshogre | TEDxKIOmar Alshogre shares his harrowing journey from imprisonment in Syria to becoming a global advocate for human rights and hope. His talk explores the power of storytelling, the impact of trauma, and the importance of leadership during crises. Through his lived experience, he inspires strength, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose. Omar Alshogre is a Syrian public speaker, detention survivor, and Georgetown University graduate based in Stockholm. After being arrested for protesting the former Syrian regime, Omar escaped imprisonment with his mother's help. In his talks, Omar focuses on the power of storytelling, the effects of trauma, and the crucial role of leadership in times of crisis. Through his narrative, he helps audiences to rediscover hope, embrace resilience, and find strength in the face of adversity. 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
- 24:37Leading with Purpose:Transforming Education for a Changing India | Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal | TEDxBBAUIn this visionary TEDx talk, Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal, Vice Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), addresses the urgent need to transform India's educational framework in a time of rapid social, economic, and technological change.With decades of academic leadership, Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal highlights how purpose-driven education must go beyond degrees — empowering youth to become ethical, innovative, and resilient contributors to national growth. He calls for a system that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence — equipping students not just for jobs, but for leadership in a dynamic world.This talk is a must-watch for educators, students, policymakers, and all those who believe in the power of purposeful learning to build a better India.TEDxBBAU is organised by Lakhan Varshney (Organiser) , Aditya Kumar Bharti (Co-Organiser) and Divyanshi Vishwakarma (Production), the core team members behind TEDxBBAU 2025.Lakhan's Profile: https://in.linkedin.com/in/lakhanvarshneyAditya's Profile: https://in.linkedin.com/in/adityakumarbharti Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal is the Vice Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, with over 35 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership. He holds a Ph.D., M.Phil., M.A. (Economics), MBA, and B.Com., and has previously served as Vice Chancellor at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, and Maharishi Valmiki Sanskrit University.He has held senior academic roles at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, including Professor, Dean, and Director-Development. Prof. Mittal has published 120+ research papers, supervised 21 Ph.D. scholars, and guided 150+ MBA students.Awarded the IEEE Lifetime Achievement Award and Best Teacher Award, his interests include entrepreneurship, NEP-2020, and promoting Indian knowledge systems in education. He has completed five major research projects and participated in academic visits to the USA, Japan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. 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
- 17:30Planea con estrategia, actúa con propósito, inspira con pasión | Marco Pérez | TEDxAnahuacUniversityMarco Antonio Pérez toma el escenario de las TEDx Anáhuac University organizadas por Vértice, el Programa de Excelencia Anáhuac y nos invita a ver la vida como una historia significativa, en la que cada caída puede ser parte de un renacer. Al aceptar nuestras sombras, formar a otros y actuar con propósito, podemos construir un legado auténtico y convertirnos en héroes de nuestra propia historia. Asesor de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo. Él nos dice "Planea con estrategia, actúa con propósito, inspira con pasión". 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
