Psychedelics and Mental Health is a documentary that follows scientific research on the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound found in over 200 species of mushrooms, in the treatment of depression and anxiety in cancer patients. Through Enzo Tagliazucchi, an Argentine physicist and neuroscientist, the documentary presents a pioneering study in Argentina, conducted in collaboration with Ain Stolniker and Ricardo Corral. Despite bureaucratic obstacles and stigma surrounding psychedelics, the study is carried out with the hope of demonstrating their effectiveness in mental health.

In addition to the research in Argentina, the documentary showcases similar studies in other Latin American countries. In Chile, scientists such as Christopher Timmermann and Constanza Baquedano lead the country’s first clinical psychedelic study, with Tagliazucchi’s collaboration. In Brazil, Sidarta Ribeiro and Draulio Barros de Araujo investigate the effects of ayahuasca in treating depression, traveling to the Amazon to study the ritual and medicinal use of the plant by indigenous tribes. The documentary also highlights international research connections, with Timmermann working at the psychedelic research center at Imperial College in London.

The documentary’s focus also extends to ancestral medicine, exploring the use of the San Pedro cactus in northern Argentina alongside mycologist Natalia Ovieczka. Through patient testimonies, the documentary emphasizes the positive effects of psilocybin and other psychedelics in treating depression and anxiety. Overall, Psychedelics and Mental Health sheds light on an emerging trend in science that promises to transform the treatment of mental disorders, highlighting South America’s crucial role in the history of psychedelics.