Health

Psychedelic Therapies Gain Attention as Mental Health Crisis Deepens

Published

14 hours ago

May 17, 2026

As mental health disorders continue to rise worldwide, researchers are increasingly turning to psychedelic-assisted therapy as a possible new treatment for conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly in patients who do not respond to conventional care.

Scientists and mental health experts say the growing interest reflects frustration with the limited progress in psychiatric medicine over recent decades. According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people globally are living with mental health conditions, placing pressure on healthcare systems to find more effective therapies.

Psychedelic-assisted treatment typically combines controlled doses of psychoactive substances with professional psychological support in carefully monitored settings. Patients are guided through the experience by trained clinicians, often in quiet rooms designed to reduce stress and encourage emotional openness.

Among the substances under study, psilocybin — the active compound found in so-called magic mushrooms — has emerged as one of the most promising. Researchers say it may help patients break free from rigid patterns of thinking commonly linked to severe depression.

Dr Liliana Galindo, assistant professor in psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said psychedelic research offers hope for patients who have exhausted existing treatment options.

“Unfortunately, in psychiatry, we haven’t really had many new treatments for decades,” she said. “Psychedelics are opening the possibility for treatments aimed at people who do not respond to standard therapies.”

A synthetic form of psilocybin known as COMP360 has already completed phase three clinical trials for treatment-resistant depression. Developers are expected to seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, raising the possibility that psilocybin could become the first approved psychedelic-based mental health treatment.

Researchers believe psychedelics work differently from traditional antidepressants. Rather than only easing symptoms, they may temporarily alter brain activity in ways that allow patients to rethink traumatic memories, emotional responses and long-standing negative thought patterns.

Studies from institutions including Imperial College London suggest even a single controlled dose of psilocybin may produce measurable changes in brain function.

Other compounds, including MDMA, are also being studied for their potential to treat PTSD by helping patients revisit traumatic memories in a less fearful state.

Despite the growing scientific interest, significant obstacles remain. Psychedelics are still illegal in many countries and are often associated with recreational drug use. In the United Kingdom, substances such as psilocybin remain classified as Class A drugs, creating strict licensing requirements for researchers.

Experts also warn that psychedelic treatments should never be used without medical supervision. Controlled environments, trained therapists and careful patient screening are considered essential to reduce risks and manage possible side effects.

Researchers say more studies are still needed to determine who benefits most from psychedelic-assisted therapy. However, supporters believe the field could eventually transform mental healthcare if treatments prove both safe and effective.

Health

Cruise Ship Passengers Confined in Bordeaux After Gastroenteritis Outbreak

Published

5 days ago

May 13, 2026

Web Reporter

More than 1,700 passengers and crew members remained confined aboard a cruise ship off the coast of Bordeaux on Wednesday after a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak sickened dozens of people and prompted French health authorities to suspend disembarkation procedures.

The vessel, the Ambition operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, arrived in Bordeaux after a journey that began in the Shetland Islands north of Scotland on May 6. The ship had also stopped in Belfast and Liverpool before reaching southwestern France, where it had been scheduled to continue onward to Spain.

French regional health authorities said around 50 passengers developed symptoms linked to an acute digestive illness, including vomiting and diarrhoea. Those affected were treated by the ship’s medical staff and isolated in their cabins to limit further spread.

The outbreak prompted authorities in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region to send a medical team aboard the vessel to assess the situation and collect samples for laboratory testing at Bordeaux University Hospital.

Officials confirmed that initial tests had ruled out norovirus, one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis outbreaks on cruise ships, though additional investigations were continuing. Health authorities said food poisoning had not yet been excluded as a possible cause.

French officials also moved quickly to distance the incident from recent hantavirus cases linked to another cruise ship, the MV Hondius, which has sparked international concern in recent weeks.

“There is no reason to draw any connection” between the Ambition outbreak and the hantavirus situation, regional health authorities said in a statement.

As a precaution, authorities ordered passengers and crew to remain aboard while interactions with the port were restricted. The decision was made because of the contagious nature commonly associated with gastroenteritis-type illnesses and pending final test results.

According to officials, the highest number of symptomatic cases was recorded on Monday while the ship was docked in Brest.

Health experts note that gastrointestinal illnesses can spread rapidly on cruise ships due to the close living conditions and shared dining facilities. Although outbreaks are relatively uncommon compared with the total number of global cruises, they remain a recurring concern for the industry.

The United States Vessel Sanitation Program has recorded four cruise ship outbreaks so far this year, including cases linked to norovirus and E.coli.

Vikram Niranjan, assistant professor of public health at the University of Limerick, said buffet dining, shared utensils and frequent contact with common surfaces can increase the risk of stomach viruses spreading among passengers.

Authorities have not yet announced when passengers aboard the Ambition will be allowed to leave the vessel.

Health

Virus-Hit Cruise Ship Forced to Dock Again in Canary Islands Amid Bad Weather

Published

6 days ago

May 12, 2026

Web Reporter

A Dutch cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak was forced to dock again in Spain’s Canary Islands on Monday evening after strong winds and rough seas disrupted evacuation operations, Spanish authorities said.

The MV Hondius had been heading toward the Netherlands, where officials planned to complete the repatriation of the remaining 28 passengers on board.

Spanish maritime authorities recommended the temporary docking at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife after weather conditions made it unsafe for the vessel to continue evacuation procedures at sea.

Officials said strong gusts repeatedly pushed the ship off course during manoeuvres lasting more than an hour. Attempts to stabilise the vessel proved unsuccessful as high waves and shifting winds complicated operations.

Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García defended the decision, saying passenger safety remained the priority.

“For meteorological reasons and following the recommendation of the maritime authorities, the MV Hondius has been temporarily moored in the Port of Granadilla,” García said. “The strong wind and waves made it safer for the passengers to disembark and for evacuation teams to work.”

The ship has been at the centre of an international health operation after multiple hantavirus cases were linked to passengers on board. Three passengers have died since the outbreak began during the voyage, while several confirmed and suspected infections have been reported among travellers from different countries.

Spanish health authorities said Monday evening that one of the 14 Spanish nationals evacuated from the ship had tested provisionally positive for hantavirus at Madrid’s Gómez Ulla Hospital.

The patient remains isolated and has not shown symptoms, while the remaining evacuees tested negative and continue to remain in quarantine under medical supervision.

The outbreak has prompted warnings from the World Health Organization, which said additional cases could emerge in the coming weeks because of the virus’s long incubation period.

Olivier Le Polain, head of the WHO epidemiology unit, said authorities needed to remain alert as symptoms may not appear immediately after exposure.

“We may see cases in the next few days or next week, so we need to be vigilant,” he said, explaining that the incubation period can last up to six weeks, although the average is closer to three weeks.

The crisis has triggered close coordination between Spanish authorities and international health agencies. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to meet WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Moncloa Palace on Tuesday morning to review the handling of the outbreak and ongoing repatriation efforts.

The two leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference following their meeting.

Health officials continue to stress that the overall public health risk remains low despite the international concern surrounding the outbreak.

Health

Hantavirus Survivors Face Months of Lasting Health Problems, Researchers Warn

Published

6 days ago

May 12, 2026

Web Reporter

Growing concern over recent hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship passengers has renewed attention not only on the deadly infection itself, but also on the long-term health problems many survivors continue to face months after leaving hospital.

Health experts say fear surrounding the virus is driven by two major factors: its long incubation period, which can last up to eight weeks, and the lack of any approved antiviral treatment or vaccine.

The strain drawing particular attention is the Andes virus, which can cause a severe illness known as Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome. The condition affects the lungs and heart and carries a mortality rate of up to 50 percent in serious cases. Doctors say rapid access to intensive care treatment is often critical for survival.

Despite growing international concern following cases aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, researchers and the World Health Organization have stressed there is no evidence the virus poses a pandemic threat similar to Covid-19.

Still, scientists are increasingly studying what happens after patients survive the infection.

Researchers at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile followed 21 survivors of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome between three and six months after they were discharged from hospital. Their findings suggest recovery is often slow and incomplete.

According to the study, every survivor reported at least one continuing symptom months after infection. More than 60 percent said they had not fully recovered, while patients experienced an average of 11 to 12 lingering symptoms each.

The study found that many survivors continued to suffer from fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, memory problems, nightmares and sensory disturbances. Some patients also experienced motor difficulties, heart palpitations and hair loss.

Researchers noted that even patients who had relatively milder cases continued to face long-term health problems, suggesting the virus itself may trigger prolonged recovery rather than the effects of intensive care alone.

The most severe patients required Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, commonly known as ECMO, a procedure used when the heart and lungs can no longer function properly. Those patients were more likely to receive rehabilitation care such as physical therapy after discharge.

By contrast, only about 30 percent of less severe survivors received follow-up rehabilitation support.

Many survivors also reported difficulties returning to normal life. Nearly one in five patients had still not resumed work or school six months after infection. Those who did return said it took an average of around three and a half months before they could resume daily activities, often with reduced performance.

Researchers also found signs of social stigma. Nearly half of the patients in the ECMO group said they experienced fear or avoidance from others because of concerns about “rodent-borne contagion.”

The study’s authors acknowledged the research involved a relatively small number of patients. Still, they said the findings highlight the need for broader long-term care for hantavirus survivors, including mental health support, rehabilitation services and better public understanding of the illness.