The Future of Psychedelic Therapy with Joost J. Breeksema & Renske Blom

What if the future of mental healthcare isn’t simply about discovering a better drug, but about fundamentally rethinking how we care for one another?

For decades, depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions have been treated largely through medication and conventional psychotherapy. Yet despite billions spent annually and significant advances in neuroscience, millions of people continue to struggle with treatments that don’t work for them. Across the world, researchers are beginning to ask a difficult question: Have we been looking at mental healthcare the wrong way all along?

In this episode of Human Lab, part of our Member Stories series, we travel to the Netherlands, a country at the forefront of psychedelic research, to explore one of the most fascinating developments in modern medicine.

Joining us are Joost J. Breeksema, Executive Director of the OPEN Foundation, and Renske Blom, founder and coordinator of the Dutch Psychiatric Association (NVvP) Platform on Psychedelics, as well as a board member of the OPEN Foundation. Together, they offer a rare insider’s perspective into the science, ethics, opportunities, and challenges surrounding psychedelic-assisted therapy.

This isn’t a conversation about recreational drug use or sensational headlines. Instead, it’s a thoughtful exploration of how carefully regulated psychedelic therapies are being studied as potential treatments for some of the world’s most difficult mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Throughout the discussion, Joost and Renske explain why the conversation extends far beyond the medicines themselves. They argue that the real breakthrough may lie in recognising the importance of preparation, therapeutic relationships, integration, and multidisciplinary care. If approved, psychedelic treatments could require healthcare systems to rethink not only how medicines are prescribed but also how healing itself is delivered.

The conversation also tackles many of the questions dominating global policy and investment discussions. What have clinical trials actually shown so far? Why has regulatory approval proven so complex? Can scientific evidence coexist with centuries of indigenous knowledge? And how can these therapies remain accessible rather than becoming treatments available only to those who can afford them?

Equally fascinating is the discussion around the role of therapists. Unlike many conventional medicines, psychedelic-assisted treatments cannot simply be reduced to taking a pill. Success often depends on the quality of clinical support before, during, and after treatment, making therapist education and specialised training as important as the medicine itself.

As global interest in psychedelic medicine accelerates, governments, healthcare providers, researchers, and investors are all trying to understand where this field is heading. Yet, as our guests repeatedly emphasise, perhaps the greatest lesson emerging from the research is not about psychedelics at all; it is about the human experience. Questions of meaning, connection, trust, healing, and compassion sit at the centre of the discussion, challenging conventional assumptions about what effective mental healthcare should look like in the future.

Rather than offering easy answers, this episode invites listeners into a thoughtful conversation where science, philosophy, psychiatry, ethics, and public policy intersect. It is a discussion that raises as many important questions as it answers, and one that will leave listeners reflecting long after it ends.

Whether you’re interested in healthcare innovation, neuroscience, public policy, mental wellbeing, or the future of medicine, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-evolving fields in global health.

Listen to the latest episode of Human Lab and discover why many believe psychedelic research could become one of the defining conversations in the future of mental healthcare. Join us as we explore the science, the people, and the ideas shaping tomorrow’s healthcare landscape, and decide for yourself whether this is a medical revolution, a philosophical shift, or perhaps a little of both.

Disclaimer: The perspectives expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of our platform. This discussion is intended solely for knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.

Produced by Global Indian Series for the Global Indian Network.
Script by Rajan Nazran
original idea: Rajan Nazran

Introduction music credit: https://freesound.org/people/GregorQuendel