Article content
Prior to the pandemic, the lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder in Canada was between 4.7-11.2 per cent, which has equated to a $51 billion burden on the Canadian economy through lost productivity, lowered quality of life, and related healthcare costs. Early reports suggest that these figures have grown significantly, with rates of depression symptoms and suicidal ideation tripling since the start of the pandemic with over half the population reporting worsened mental health due to the impact of the pandemic. Current treatment approaches such as antidepressants struggle with high drop-out, relapse, and non-adherence rates, as well as negligible improvements in symptoms. These issues have warranted an exploration of novel treatment approaches and there is a growing body of research that supports psychedelic-assisted therapy’s ability to address them.