End Well's "The End in Mind" Conference to Explore Psychedelics' Role in Improving the End of Life Experience

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --  End Well, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to the belief that all people should experience the end of life in a way that matches their values and goals, announced it will host The End in Mind, the largest mainstream gathering to date dedicated to the future of psychedelic medicines in care for people facing serious illness or end of life on Thursday, October 14th.

The virtual event, which is currently free and open to the public, will bring together changemaking celebrities like GRAMMY® winner Melissa Etheridge and Dream Corps founder Van Jones, along with healthcare, policy, culture, business and psychedelic leaders. The End in Mind's conference tracks will explore a range of topics, including: psychedelic medicines and their uses, from age-old Indigenous practices to the latest clinical trials; the current and future role of psychedelics in care for serious illness, grief, and end of life; the science behind psychedelics and their potential to help treat mental, physical, and social conditions; stigmas surrounding the consumption of psychedelic substances; the policy landscape and emerging market for psychedelic medicines; and the growing movement to broaden access to these treatments.

The conference's robust lineup of speakers include:

• Van Jones, activist, changemaker and founder of Dream Corps;
• Melissa Etheridge, singer-songwriter, guitarist, GRAMMY® winner, activist and entrepreneur;
• Rick Doblin, Ph.D., American drug reformist, advocate and the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS);
• Stephen Ross, MD, psychiatrist, psychedelics researcher, and associate director of NYU Langone's Center for Psychedelic Medicine;
• Ira Byock, MD, a leading palliative care physician and advocate for improving care through the end of life;
• Patricia James, Cheyenne pipe carrier and priest;
• Claire Bidwell Smith, an American therapist and best-selling author who specializes in grief therapy;
• and many more, who will lead interactive breakout sessions to answer questions and provide a deeper dive into the cultural, regulatory, and industry shifts shaping and being shaped by the psychedelic landscape.

"Psychedelics could be a paradigm shift in modern medicine, creating new possibilities that go beyond current treatments for life-limiting illness and allow people to live well until the end," said Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, MD, founder of End Well. "Research indicates that when used in a carefully controlled and monitored environment, these medicines can offer a more person-centered, inclusive, and empathetic model for care for people facing the end of life — and that is something every one of us should be thinking about. The End in Mind will bring together many of the people and ideas shaping the future of this space, and make the promises and perils of these therapies accessible to a broader audience so as to spark meaningful conversations about what it means to end well."

The event is sponsored by leading companies in the emerging psychedelics space, including: Palo Santo, a U.S.-based psychedelic investment fund that recently launched with $35 million in capital raised and an active portfolio of 20+ companies; Reset Pharma, which is advancing psilocybin therapy for patients with cancer and other life threatening diagnosis; biotechnology company Cybin, the first psychedelics company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange; atai Life Sciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to transform the treatment of mental health disorders; and Microdose, a media platform with a vision to shift the world's perception of psychedelic medicine.

"It's becoming increasingly clear that psychedelics are poised to change the field of mental health, and we are thrilled to be partners with the leading innovators in the space," said Daniel Goldberg, co-founder and partner of Palo Santo. "As these medicines are increasingly destigmatized, medicalized and legalized, the time is right to invest in the future of this space and create broad access to effective treatments. From entrepreneurs to investors to practitioners to patients, we all have a role to play in realizing the potential of psychedelics in healthcare."   

"There is compelling research going back to the 1950s that psychedelic medicines can reduce pain and distress for people who are suffering," said Doug Drysdale, CEO of Cybin. "The End in Mind is focused on translating the research for a general audience, to make more people aware of the evidence base supporting these therapies and the recent advances in drug development and delivery."

"For a variety of mental disorders affecting millions worldwide, the current standard of care simply isn't adequate enough. Innovation is greatly needed – and psychedelics could play a substantial role in revolutionizing mental healthcare" said Florian Brand, CEO of atai. "However, to effectively communicate and integrate these medicines in the public domain, we must engage all stakeholders and foster the sort of dialogues organized by End Well."

"Finally, we seem to be moving past the stigma around plant medicines," said Melissa Etheridge, "and into a whole new era of understanding that will hopefully enable more of us to experience the benefits of these powerful medicines — especially in the most dire times of need when we are confronting illness, grief, mortality, existential fear, and death." 

The End in Mind will take place on October 14th, from 11:45am to 5:00pm EDT/8:45am to 2:00pm PDT. Registration is free until September 26th.

About End Well
End Well is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the belief that all people should experience the end of life in a way that matches their values and goals. End Well brings together a multidisciplinary community that unites design, technology, health, policy and activist initiatives to create a cultural shift that transforms our thinking about serious illness, caregiving, grief and the end of life.

End Well was founded by Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, an internal medicine physician, the host of the TED Health Podcast, and a leading voice in healthcare who regularly appears as a medical contributor on CNN, MSNBC and CBS News.

SOURCE End Well

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