Welcome from the conference Chairs to this much needed conference that will explore the evidence and impact of integrative medicine for mental health.  

 

Dr Michael Dixon, Chair of the College of Medicine, welcomes you to the Integrative Mental Health conference which aims to highlight some of the latest research and clinical examples of integrative approaches to address the mental health crisis that our healthcare system faces today.

We are in the midst of a global mental health crisis, and mental illnesses are on the rise. But what causes mental illness? And why are mental health problems so hard to treat? Drawing on decades of research, Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Christopher Palmer outlines a revolutionary new understanding that for the first time unites our existing knowledge about mental illness within a single framework: Mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain.

Professor Edward Bullmore, Professor of Psychiatry at University of Cambridge and author of 'The Inflamed Mind' will be interviewed by Debbie Cotton and will present the new science on the link between depression and inflammation of the body and brain.  He will delve into how and why we now know that mental disorders can have their root cause in the immune system and how identifying the root cause in each individual patient would lead to more effective targeted treatment.   

Over the past 20 years, exposure to mycotoxin producing mould has been recognized as a significant health risk.  Dr Jill Crista, a leading expert at the forefront of mould-related illness diagnosis and treatment.  While mould toxicity is most commonly linked to physical health conditions, research shows that it can present itself in a psychiatric way including brain fog, depression, anxiety, problems concentrating, and insomnia. This means that some people are seeking and receiving treatment for a mental illness that only exists because of their exposure to mould.

Dr Christina Bjorndal will present a wholistic view of crucial elements to the treatment of anxiety, depression and bipolar disorders. The presentation begins with a macro view of treatment and focuses down into tangible and practical skills to be used in clinic with patients.  Case studies will be provided to emphasize the application of the teachings. Participants will gain confidence and skills in helping patients with mental health concerns in their practice through traditional naturopathic modalities and novel psychotherapeutic exercises. 

 

Your breath is one of the simplest, yet most powerful self-healing tools you have to transform your physical, mental and spiritual health. The way you breathe affects every system and function in your body.  Sophie Trew has experienced the healing power of breathwork for herself and will guide you through a short practical session which we hope will encourage you to explore more.

 

There have been limited options in the mainstream approach for helping patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and traumatic head injury (TBI), other than supportive measures.  However, there is growing research to show that a number of nutritional, herbal and pharmaceutical compounds that have the potential for improving cognitive performance, including memory, motivation, concentration, and attention.  Dr Ewer, will review a range of these nootropics and look at how they can be applied in the clinical setting.  He will also be suggesting some additional protocols, including laser therapy and HBOT as part of a combined management approach to MCI and TBI. 

What has been causing your gut health issues? Has it really been dairy / gluten / parasites / whatever else, or your own thought and behaviour patterns? In this highly anticipated talk, clinical neuroscientist Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas will serve rich, fruity smoothie with hard science, trauma, and lived experience as the main ingredients. Drink deep and descend with Dr Miguel into the depths of the connection between the brain, the mind, and health outcomes within and beyond the gut.

Leo Pruimboom ‘Intermittent Living’ is about going ‘back to basics’ – it is about the reintroduction of mild environmentally-based short lasting stress, like cold, heat, hunger, thirst which were once part of an ancient lifestyle.  Dr Leo Pruimboom’s will highlight his research where participants engaged in a 10 day hunter-gather style trip through the Pyrenees where they were exposed to intermittent fasting and drinking, the alternation of cold-heat, and endurance training-high intensity.  He found that coping with ‘ancient mild stress factors’ showed improved metabolic functioning and when combined with forest bathing has also been shown to reduce stress.

If we placed all our healthcare professional's brains in a functional MRI, over 52% would exhibit the characteristic brain wave pattern of BURNOUT.  Interestingly, this is identical to "grief" in our brain, which means thousands of doctors, nurses, and physician assistants are showing up to work daily, burdened with the cognitive slowing, brain fog, and hopelessness indicative of burnout.   Dr. Lara Salyer, a physician, mother of three who suffered burnout, resigned and is re-imagining the way she practices medicine. After training with the Institute for Functional Medicine and Flow Research Collective, she now teach patients and practitioners how to optimize flow to catalyze their own revolution in healing.  She is on a mission to teach 1 million healthcare practitioners how to tap into their own creative flow so they can optimise their cortisol, reclaim autonomy and unlock energetic joy in a world where burnout will always exist.

 

Dr Laura Marshall-Andrews, an NHS doctor with a pioneering holistic approach to care and Dr Susanna Petche, GP, Functional Medicine doctor, Clinical Facilitator and expert in Psychological Trauma will share the life changing outcomes and client stories from a 12-month NHS funded programme of holistic healing, treating complex post-traumatic stress disorder and emotionally unstable personality disorder.  The ConnectionWorks project facilitated 32 participants through a year of psychoeducation, lifestyle interventions and body work including yoga, TRE, acupuncture, nature walks and equine therapy. 

 

Dr Rani's vision is to lead a movement for mental wealth i.e., our innate mental health guided by a deep understanding of the root causes of personal suffering, new perspectives and practices for self-care and healing. She also wants to raise awareness of the risks associated with taking and coming off psychiatric drugs and the need for informed consent. She will share her experiences of supporting patients that wish to come off psychiatric medication, in a way that is safe and minimises withdrawal effects.

There is growing recognition that many mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, poor cognition and memory (as well as physical issues), are the results of the high prevalence of trauma, post-traumatic stress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and that only by addressing trauma and rebalancing the nervous system can we address these mental and physical health issues successfully and sustainably. Benjamin fry, accredited psychotherapist, author and founder of one of the only residential trauma clinics in the world, Khiron Clinics, has worked extensively on the ground and with leaders in the field of trauma to bring cutting edge trauma and somatic therapies to the UK. He will show us how trauma can cause stuck energy and a dysregulated nervous system, which can lead to biochemical imbalances which manifest in inflammation and mental health symptoms. He will also tell us about the most tried and tested therapies to heal trauma and rebalance the nervous system.  Benjamin Fry, will highlight how trauma-informed care is a vital part of addressing a patient's underlying mental health problems.

Prof David Nutt is an expert on drugs, and how they work on the brain.  He trained as a psychiatrist, and for almost 50 years his research has focused on new drug treatments for anxiety, depression and addiction.  This session will highlight his ongoing work at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, and elsewhere, that is focused on developing and safely testing new therapeutic protocols, ways to combine drug treatment with therapy in order to treat depression in a new way.