ICEERS | January 14, 2025
Today, January 14, 2025, the collection of signatures has begun for the European citizens’ initiative PsychedeliCare, a proposal that seeks to promote the regulation of therapies assisted with traditional medicines in Europe’s public health systems. This campaign represents a historic step towards the integration of innovative treatments supported by both modern science and the traditional knowledge of Indigenous communities.
As a foundation committed to the recognition and protection of Indigenous Traditional Medicines, ICEERS supports this campaign with the potential to transform the approach to mental health in Europe. The proposal, which needs to collect one million signatures by January 2026, invites European citizens to support the European Commission to analyze and legislate on this crucial issue.
A necessary and urgent change
Europe is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. Millions of people are living with psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment-resistant depression and substance use disorders, conditions that are often unresponsive to conventional treatments. Psychedelic therapies, supported by a growing body of scientific evidence, have shown promising results in these areas, opening the door to new hope for patients and professionals.
At ICEERS, we believe that this transformation must be done with a deep respect for the cultures that have protected and passed on the knowledge of these medicines for centuries. It is not only about adopting new therapeutic tools, but also about integrating in a responsible way the values and principles that sustain them, promoting an inclusive, sustainable and ethical health model.
The PsychedeliCare initiative highlights the need to establish a regulatory framework that guarantees the safety of patients and promotes research into psychedelic-assisted therapies. ICEERS has worked since its inception at the intersection of modern science and ancient knowledge, and we know that collaboration between the two approaches can offer effective and holistic solutions to today’s mental health challenges.
Our scientific director, Dr. José Carlos Bouso, underlines the importance of this initiative: “We are at a turning point. Psychedelic therapies not only offer an alternative to treat complex disorders, but also raise the possibility of redefining the relationship between Western medicine and traditional knowledge. Europe has the opportunity to lead this change, always with respect for the original communities and the protection of their rights.”
Citizen participation as a driver of change
PsychedeliCare is also a call for active citizen participation. This initiative offers people in Europe the chance to be part of a movement that could change the history of mental health on the continent. Upon reaching the required threshold of signatures, the European Commission will be obliged to evaluate and discuss the proposal, which could lead to an inclusive and evidence-based regulatory framework.
From ICEERS, we invite our communities and networks to support this cause by signing the initiative. The collection of signatures is the first step towards ensuring that these therapies are integrated responsibly in Europe, respecting both the people who need them and the cultures that have preserved them.
At ICEERS we continue to work to ensure that the dialogue between science, culture and politics allows us to move towards an integral health model. We know that the path towards the regulation of Indigenous Traditional Medicines is not without its challenges, but we are also convinced that, together, we can build a future where respect and collaboration form the basis of our decisions.
Today, more than ever, we call for action. Sign, share and be part of the change. Because mental health in Europe needs and deserves new answers. Because this is a historic moment, and we can build it together.
Categories:
NEWS
Tags:
drug policy
, psychedelics
, law
, psychedelic therapy
, European Union
, psychedelic-assisted therapy