From Amazon retreats to clinical research: The rise of psychedelic therapy

Image caption, Claire Torpey attended retreats in Central and South America where participants legally take psychedelics as part of guided therapeutic programmes

From retreats in the Amazon to clinical trials in Newcastle, psychedelic therapy is attracting growing attention as a possible treatment for depression. Could hallucinogenic drugs one day become part of mainstream NHS care?

Claire Torpey had tried traditional forms of mental health support, including counselling. But she says there was still something she could not shake.

"There was a deep sadness. I was living in chronic anxiety," she says.

Claire, from Tynemouth, North Tyneside, spent part of her childhood in care and says the challenges she faced growing up were compounded by the deaths of her father and grandmother in consecutive years.

"There wasn't anything that was really moving the needle from my internal state. I was deeply sad and I didn't want to be here."