UK cannabis clinic expands to offer mental health treatments

Online medical cannabis clinic, Treat It, has announced its expansion to include specialised psychiatric services amid the UK’s ‘mental health crisis’.

The move will enable individuals with conditions such as anxiety, ADHD or PTSD to access treatment through Kanabo Group’s digital health platform, at a time when mental health infrastructure is lacking nationally.

According to ONS data, in 2022 around one in six adults experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms, an increase from pre-pandemic levels. In the fourth quarter of 2023, around 22% of the adult population experienced a high level of anxiety. 

The non-profit charity PTSD Today estimates that around one in 10 people in the UK, or around 6.6 million people, might experience PTSD during their lifetime. Meanwhile the chief executive of the non-profit mental health organisation, Mind, has described the NHS’s current system as “broken”.

As with Treat It’s existing pain management offerings, the mental health services will focus on secondary care, including prescriptions for alternative medications such as medical cannabis. 

While research on medical cannabis in this area remains nascent, studies indicate that, as with pain management, medicinal cannabis may help alleviate symptoms of conditions such as PTSD. 

Accessed online, patients can take an eligibility test before being connected with a specialist doctor. Treat It doctors are able to access the NHS records of patients, meaning they have a complete picture of each patient’s medical background.

A treatment plan is created and patients will then receive their prescription. 

“We are very happy to be extending our offering to now cater for individuals suffering with mental health conditions. This is an important milestone for Treat It, and something we have been focussing on to ensure we get this right,” said Avihu Tamir, CEO, Kanabo Group plc. 

“The UK is facing a mental health crisis, which is worsened with the lack of infrastructure nationally and inadequate access to support and treatment. This expansion offers people a new way to receive the support they need, and access to a range of treatments.”

“Like we have seen for physical medical conditions, patients have been taking opioids for many years, which has failed to address their issues. With Treat It, we are able to present patients with more options, including medical cannabis, which provides an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical drugs they have been prescribed to date.” 

Dr Mehran Afshar, Chief Clinical Director of Treat It commented: “Mental health is an integral part of overall well-being, yet it often remains overlooked or stigmatised. By expanding our digital health platform to include mental health treatments, we aim to provide patients with access to alternative therapies and raise awareness and destigmatise these conditions. Our multidisciplinary team will work closely with patients to develop personalised treatment plans tailored to their unique needs and circumstances.”