Paving the Way for Implementing Psychedelic Therapies in Europe

By Norrsken Mind, a non-profit organization that supports research on psychedelic substances and their potential to treat mental health conditions; founding member and supporter of PAREA.

PAREA unites pan-European patient organizations, medical associations, scientific societies, and psychedelic foundations to promote evidence-based policymaking and prepare health systems for the adoption of psychedelic therapies. 

The alliance’s work has already helped shape the European policy landscape, facilitating the European Medicines Agency’s first workshop on psychedelics, contributing to the inclusion of psychedelics in EU research guidelines for depression treatments, reviewing WHO guidance on the safe use of controlled medicines, and working with EU institutions to create public funding opportunities for psychedelic research.

Norrsken Mind co-founded PAREA and supports its advocacy through grants and board representation. Current projects include Paving the Way for Implementing Psychedelic Therapies in Europe, focused on building political momentum within EU institutions and strengthening national advocacy networks, and Advancing EU Access through Regulatory Sandboxes, which explores how new EU regulatory tools can enable early and responsible access to psychedelic therapies to build healthcare system readiness.

Through coordinated advocacy and stakeholder engagement, PAREA is helping create a coherent European framework for psychedelic research, access, and regulation, one grounded in science, ethics, people-centredness and public benefit. Together with PAREA, Norrsken Mind works to ensure that psychedelic-assisted therapies can be safely and responsibly integrated into European mental healthcare.

PAREA is led by:

• Tadeusz Hawrot – Founder & Executive Director, and former senior adviser at the European Brain Council

• Francisca Silva – Project Officer, and former trainee at the EMA

PAREA Partners

• European Brain Council

• European Psychiatric Association

• European College of Neuropsychopharmacology

• European Federation of Neurological Associations

• The Association of European Cancer Leagues

• Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Network

• Pain Alliance Europe

• National psychedelic societies and foundations across Europe, including Beckley Foundation, Drug Science, OPEN Foundation, PsyPAN, ICEERS, MIND Foundation, and us here at Norrsken Mind