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
- 7:32The Syrian History: Interaction and Integration | ABDALKAREM ALKADRI | TEDxAl Qassaa SalonWhat makes Syrian history unique? This talk explores the patterns of cultural interaction and civilizational integration that have shaped Syrian society across time. By presenting history as a dynamic space of influence and exchange, it offers a fresh perspective on Syrian identity as a product of rich diversity that strengthens — rather than divides — unity.التاريخ السوري: تفاعل واندماج| عبد الكريم القادِري| تيداكس القصّاع صالون 28.06.2025ما الّذي يميّز التاريخ السوريّ؟ يستعرض الخِطاب ملامح التفاعل الثقافيّ والاندِماج الحَضاريّ الَّذي شكّل نسيج المُجتَمَع السوريّ عبرَ العُصور. من خلاِل قِراءة للتاريخ كَمَجال مَفتوح للتأثيرات واللَِقاءات، يُطرح منظور جَديد للهويّة السوريّة كَنِتاج لتعدُّديّة غَنيّة لا تَنفي الوحدة، بل تُعزّزها. - Researcher specializing in the history of Damascus - Winner of the Fakhri Al-Baroudi Award for Young Historians - Worked at the National Documentation Center (archive upload, analysis, and preservation project) - Licensed tour guide (English language) - Currently completing a Master's degree in Medieval History at the University of Damascus 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
- 12:21The SITT Test : Are you really thinking freely? | Miriam Haart | TEDxAndoverWhat does it really mean to think freely? In this eye-opening TEDx talk Miriam shares her powerful story of growing up in a world shaped by rigid ideology - where even wearing shorts or asking questions came at a cost. But when she finally broke free, she discovered something unexpected: dogmatic thinking exists everywhere, even in places that claim to value freedom and open-mindedness. To help others recognize the hidden forces that shape their thoughts, she introduces The SITT Test - a framework built on Social Pressure, Insularity, and Two-Dimensional Thought. Through personal experience and cultural insight, she challenges us all to ask: Are we truly thinking for ourselves—or simply absorbing what we’re told? Her message is a call to action: embrace the 3 Cs—Courage, Curiosity, and Compromise—and start sitting with ideas instead of silencing them. Miriam Haart stars in the award-nominated top 10 hit series, ‘My Unorthodox Life’ on Netflix. Miriam is a founder, software engineer and social influencer with more than 400K followers across her platforms, recently featured on Time Out Mag for her work. Her podcast, Faking It, has gained significant popularity. Her content involves female-tech leadership, LGBT rights , and Jewish and Middle Eastern Activism. Miriam was a lecturer and graduate in Computer Science from Stanford University. She taught a class on Virtual Reality Development. Miriam has built over 10 iOS apps, some of which she’s won awards for. Miriam is an iCenter Fellow Recipient in Middle Eastern Studies. As well as a recipient of the Z-Fellowship and the Tel Aviv Institute Fellowship. 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