☁️🍄 Issue No. 034

iPad kids, deep brain stimulation, and somatics x psychedelics

September 24, 2023

Welcome back to another edition of Headlines. Great to be in your inbox again, and hope you’re having a great September thus far. 

QUICK HITS

  • Spread the wealth. TOMS shoes founder Blake Mycoskie discusses his $100M pledge for psychedelics. 

  • Pocket therapy. Meet Deepen, a 24/7 AI therapist for introspection and self-care. 

  • On the list. Oregon’s first licensed psilocybin service center has a 3K-person waitlist.

  • Opening up. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash) shares about his own struggles with mental health. 

  • The AI will see you now. Britain and the US are testing out AI-powered mental health apps as screening tools. [Re-read Issue No. 015: A Sixth Sense] 

  • Ibo-gains. Kentucky panel holds public hearing on its $42M plan for ibogaine as an opioid treatment. 

  • New vision. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) introduced the VISIONS Act, which would prohibit federal prosecution in states where psilocybin is legal. 

  • Priority paradox. People worldwide are increasingly prioritizing well-being, but the state of well-being is not improving. 

  • Sobering stats. Over 36% of US younger adults say they had moments in the past year where they contemplated suicide. 

  • Going national. Enthea announces nationwide network capabilities for ketamine-assisted therapy as an employee benefit. 

  • Shroom zoom. Cybin shares jumped 38% higher after Point72, Mets owner Steve Cohen’s hedge fund, disclosed the purchase of nearly 19M shares.

  • Draft pick. The European Medicines Agency’s new draft guideline for the clinical investigation of depression medicines includes a section on psychedelics. 

  • In for a treat. CA’s Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) posted a review of TREAT California, an initiative that would set aside $5B for psychedelic research and therapies.

NEWS & TRENDS

1) iPad kids

The kids’ mental health crisis is getting steadily worse; you don’t need us to tell you that. These days, their parents’ biggest fears aren’t wayward cars or suspicious strangers, nor any other physical threat — it’s the internet and social media. 

While it’s easy to say that kids should just get off their phones, reality is a bit more complex. Like it or not, TikTok and YouTube are here to stay. What about some sort of middle ground? Startups like Betweened and Carrots&Cake are seeking this ground out, on a mission to help kids use social media safely and transform screen time into something more beneficial and less addictive — rather than shutting kids out altogether. 

2) Deep brain stimulation

This week, researchers discovered a biomarker for tracking depression recovery via deep brain stimulation (DBS). A mouthful, we know — so what does it actually mean? DBS is a neurosurgical procedure that implants electrodes within the brain, delivering mild electrical currents. It has been used as treatment for disorders like Parkinson’s and OCD, and some scientists believe it can be a powerful tool for easing depression symptoms.

Thing is, DBS is still an emerging field and researchers have had a hard time objectively tracking patient responses and demonstrating efficacy. That’s why this discovery is so big — it’s a major step towards being able to actually track improvements via the therapy. → Read more

DEALS & DEBUTS

🍽️ Equip, a virtual eating disorder treatment provider, added undisclosed funding and expanded into programs for adults.→ source

🍄 Clearmind Medicine, a psychedelic medicine developer, closed a $2.25M public offering. → source

🏋🏻 iNSPIRETEK, an athlete well-being platform, announced a partnership with the nonprofit New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL), which serves nearly 90K youth each year.→ source, Q&A with founder Annie Flamsteed

🫂 Satisfyer, a sexual wellness company, announced the launch of its High Touch Meditation series to bring together the practice of mindfulness and pleasure. → source

👔 MANUAL, an men’s mental health platform, announced new partnerships with nine Interfraternity Councils across the country to provide anonymous support for mental, sexual, and physical health.→ source

🎮 Akili, a mental health video game developer, released EndeavorOTC™, a game designed to help improve attention and focus for adults with ADHD, on Google Play.→ source

💼 Modern Health, a workplace wellness platform, announced the expansion of its Substance Use Care offering to provide preventative care and specialized substance use treatment.  → source

👧 Girl Scouts of the USA joined forces with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and HCA Healthcare to release three new mental wellness patches as part of new programming.→ source

WHAT I’M READING

  • Shaking the tiger. Could psychedelic somatic therapy help facilitate trauma healing? Many facilitators think so — and it’s not uncommon for folks to find themselves shaking, trembling, shivering, or spasming during a trip. This intersection between psychedelics and somatics is on the rise. → psychedelic.support

That’s all I’ve got for you this week, folks. As for me, I just finished a week in The Haight, hanging out with this sweet pup. 🐾

‘Til next Sunday,-Mel