Despite the long-held stigma around cannabis and mental health, we know that many patients have found it beneficial in helping them manage a wide range of mental illnesses, from anxiety and depression to PTSD and more complex psychiatric disorders (when prescribed under the guidance of a clinician).
But all of us have ‘mental health’ – not just those with a clinical diagnosis – and it’s important we take measures to look after it. Growing evidence suggests medical cannabis can play an important role in improving quality of life and mental wellbeing in those prescribed it for a wide range of chronic conditions.
In this article, we take a look at some of the latest research and explore the benefits of more holistic approaches to mental health treatment.
Mental health and medicine
Prevalence of mental health conditions UK
The mental health charity Mind estimates that one in four people in England will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year, and one in six report experiencing a common mental health problem, such as anxiety and depression, in any given week.
The demand for mental health support in the UK has been rising steadily for a number of years, according to the British Medical Association. This was accelerated by recent stressors such as the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent cost-of-living crisis.
A survey conducted by Gov.uk between September-October 2022, looking at the impact of the cost-of-living increases in depression found that around one in six (16%) adults experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms; higher than pre-pandemic levels of 10%.
Types of mental health problems
While ‘mental health’ refers to an individual's overall wellbeing, the terms mental illness or mental disorder are often used interchangeably when talking about diagnosable mental health conditions.
A mental disorder is defined as a ‘clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour’.
So, what are the 7 main mental disorders?
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists the main types of mental disorders as:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
- Eating disorders
- Disruptive behaviour and dissocial disorders
How is mental health treated today?
The two most common forms of treatment for mental health through the NHS are talking therapies and medication.
Medication
While psychiatric medications cannot cure mental disorders, they are often prescribed to help manage the symptoms.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, OCD and PTSD among others. They work by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.
Other types of medication which may be prescribed, depending on the disorder include: antipsychotics, mood stabilisers and sleeping pills or minor tranquillisers (which are also used as anti-anxiety medications).
Talking therapies
Most people referred to mental health services through the NHS receive a type of therapy known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT is designed to help you explore and change how you think about your life and develop practical skills to manage unhelpful patterns of behaviour.
There is evidence that CBT can be effective in a range of common mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression — but not everyone finds it works for them.
Holistic mental health treatment options
What do we mean by holistic medicine for mental health?
Rather than treating the individual symptoms in isolation, holistic medicine looks at the individual's overall health, focusing on their physical, mental and sometimes even spiritual wellbeing.
Medication and talking therapy can be very helpful for some people, particularly when they are experiencing acute symptoms of mental illness. However, holistic therapies can be beneficial in not only mitigating symptoms, but also in preventing illness and maintaining wellbeing.
Integrative medicine for mental health
Integrative medicine is viewed as a fairly new approach to treating mental health conditions, although it draws on techniques and therapies which have been around for centuries. It typically combines traditional (or conventional) medicine with complementary and alternative therapies.
As well as physical well-being, it focuses on the emotional and even spiritual aspects of health. Alongside traditional treatment and medication, integrative medicine practitioners might incorporate dietary and lifestyle changes, alternative therapies and ‘mind-body’ exercises, such as yoga and meditation into an individual’s treatment plan.
Functional medicine and mental health
Functional medicine focuses on treating the underlying or ‘root’ cause of your condition, rather than only the symptoms. It often uses individualised or personalised therapies to identify what is causing the problem. For example, someone who is experiencing depression may also have other health issues or deficiencies which are contributing to their depressive symptoms.
Impact of exercise on mental health
As highlighted in the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, one of the most important things you can do to protect your mental health is to move regularly.
Research has not only shown that those who exercise regularly have lower rates of mental illness, but exercise could also help treat some mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, moving more can increase your energy, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost your self-esteem.
But it can be difficult to get moving if you’re struggling with a lack of energy and motivation due to mental illness. Likewise, if you’re living with a physical health condition which causes chronic pain, fatigue and other debilitating symptoms, exercising doesn’t always seem like an option.
Medical cannabis and mental health
Medical cannabis may be used as part of a functional or integrative treatment plan. It is prescribed to help manage a range of mental disorders.
In fact, after chronic pain, anxiety is the second most common indication prescribed for, according to the figures from the UK’s observational study, T21.
All medical cannabis treatment plans are individual, but scientists have shed some light on how the compounds found in cannabis, predominantly CBD and THC, interact with the body. These findings may go some way to explaining how cannabis medicines can be helpful in regulating mood.
Cannabinoids and mood regulation
CBD directly interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and is thought to affect the amygdala, the part of the brain that controls an individual’s emotions, motivation and emotional behaviours. CBD works with the ECS to decrease amygdala activity, potentially reducing feelings of anxiety.
Meanwhile, THC binds to the CB1 receptors in the brain, which are vital for regulating anxiety and sleep. It is also thought to reduce REM sleep, which causes intense dreams, making it helpful for patients experiencing nightmares, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks as a result of PTSD.
Quality of life and mental wellbeing
Medical cannabis not only has potential in targeting the acute symptoms of mental disorders, but it can also play a significant role in looking after the mental well-being of those diagnosed with many different types of chronic illness.
Those living with a long-term physical health condition, such as chronic pain, epilepsy or inflammatory bowel disease, for example, are likely to experience poor mental health, with anxiety and depression common comorbidities in many of these conditions.
A paper published in 2022 examining data from T21, highlighted that 92% of patients' primary condition of chronic pain reported experiencing at least one comorbid secondary condition, with over a third reporting up to six.
Recent medical cannabis research
In US states where medical cannabis has been legalised, access has been associated with reductions in prescription medications for conditions including depression and anxiety.
A review of existing research highlighted one paper which estimated medical cannabis legalisation was associated with an 11% reduction in suicides in men aged 20-29 and a 9% reduction in suicides among male 30-39-year-olds.
Elsewhere, in a recent study from Greece, as well as a significant majority (96%) of patients reporting that medical cannabis reduced their symptoms, 68% said they experienced enhanced energy levels and ‘vitality’ and 88% said it improved their ability to perform at work.
Research from the UK
Real-world data from the UK has consistently reported improvements in overall quality of life and wellbeing among medical cannabis patients.
Last year, T21 project findings revealed that 86% of patients reported an improvement in anxiety or depression after three months of treatment.
A separate study looking specifically at PTSD, found that symptoms significantly reduced three months after starting treatment with cannabis. And individuals with comorbid depression experienced a larger reduction in symptoms compared to those without depression.
In a paper published last year, patients observed changes in their overall quality of life, as well as anxiety and sleep quality, suggesting that cannabis may have beneficial effects beyond those for which it is primarily prescribed.
Will medical cannabis help my mental health?
Everyone responds differently to medical cannabis treatment (and it’s not suitable for everyone), but if you think you may benefit, it’s important to do so under the guidance of a medical professional.
You can use the Releaf eligibility checker to determine if it's right for you. A team of expert clinicians will then review your application and if appropriate you will be invited to schedule an appointment with a specialist consultant. Find out more via the FAQs page or by contacting a member of the team.
