PSYCHEDELICS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: A RELATIONSHIP UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

In a growing scenario of mental health issues, Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) emerges as a promising approach, being widely studied and advancing in global researches. On the other hand, there are challenges such as the popular stigma considering these substances as "dangerous drugs" and the distance of professionals from the topic. This article aimed to understand how the usage of psychedelic substances presents itself in the field of mental health, as well as the comprehension of mental health professionals about the topic. The approach was qualitative, with semi-structured interviews and theoretical saturation sampling. The results show that all professionals have already received patients on their practices who reported prior or current use of psychedelic substances. Professionals with some training in the field demonstrate greater understanding, familiarity, and confidence on the clinical management of these experiences. The conclusion is that there is a growing demand for addressing the topic, both in foundational training and continuing education, in addition to the need of a broader debate in the field of health  and Society, in a way to reduce stigma and expand understanding and access to new therapeutic approaches that may benefit the population.