Journalist, author, and longtime advocate for women’s health, Brigid Moss has spent over 30 years telling some of the most important, intimate, and untold stories. In her most recent book, Psychedelics — based on the groundbreaking work of Professor David Nutt, with whom she co-authored the book — she explores the transformative potential of psychedelics in mental health. We caught up with Brigid to talk about the new frontiers in treatment, and why what we wear still matters — maybe more than ever.

Psychedelics & Mental Health

T&H:From a practical standpoint — what is actually legal here in the UK right now? And if a woman wanted to explore further, where could she begin to access regulated, research-backed psychedelic treatment?

Despite the growing body of evidence that psychedelics can be effective in treating mental health conditions, they remain illegal in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Psilocybin (magic mushrooms), LSD, and MDMA are all classified as Class A, Schedule 1 substances — meaning they’re considered to have no recognised medical use. The one exception is ketamine, which is listed as Schedule 2 and can be legally prescribed for certain conditions, including depression.

If you're thinking about exploring this further, there are two possible paths. The first is through clinical trials — several are underway in the UK looking at psychedelics for treatment‑resistant depression and PTSD. You can find details on sites like NIHR or clinicaltrials.gov. The second option is going abroad, as psychedelic therapy is legal or decriminalised in some countries. But be selective: regulation varies, and while some centres are serious about therapeutic care, others frame the experience more as personal exploration. In fact, many explicitly exclude people with mental health conditions, so it’s worth reading the small print and doing your research.

T&H: For women who are curious about alternative therapies for anxiety, trauma, or emotional fatigue — what kind of questions should they be asking before exploring psychedelic treatments?

It was a real joy working with Professor Nutt — his depth of knowledge and experience in this field is remarkable. His research has focused on understanding how psychedelics work in the brain and building a strong evidence base for their use in specific areas, such as treatment-resistant depression and addiction. They have been tested for anxiety but not for burnout or emotional exhaustion. 

It’s clear they’re not to be taken lightly — in both senses of the phrase. There are real risks, including the potential for difficult or distressing experiences. One of the most important things I learned is just how much the ‘set and setting’ — your mindset, and the environment and people you’re with — influence the experience. For me, having trained, experienced support before, during, and after a session would be essential. And it's worth noting that many trials exclude people with certain mental health conditions, such as a history of psychosis, so psychedelic therapy won’t be suitable for everyone.

T&H: The pressure on women to “look well” and “perform wellness” has arguably never been greater. In your view, what does true empowerment in health look like today — beyond green juices and 10-step morning routines?

It's feeling in charge of your health — knowing your body, checking your breasts, tracking your cycle (if you wish, and if you have one). It's making the most of every test going: smear, mammogram, well woman check, over-40s health check — the whole NHS offering. It’s also about knowing your numbers: cholesterol, blood pressure. And if something changes or doesn’t feel right, it’s having the confidence to speak up and advocate for yourself — even if that means being persistent when your GP looks as exhausted as you feel. 

With a wider lens, it’s about having the time, energy and resources to move regularly, and the headspace and budget to prepare a wholefood diet that includes lots of plants (and not just lentil crisps). That said, I recently wrote a piece for Red magazine where I interviewed experts about free and low-cost ways to stay healthy, and I’m planning to take some of their advice: an 8pm phone cut-off (I need to stop doomscrolling), more lentils, beans and chickpeas, and aiming for 7k steps daily. 

T&H: You’ve interviewed hundreds of women throughout your career. What’s the one thing that still moves or surprises you most when women share their personal health stories?

During my career, I’ve been privileged to listen to women share their health stories — stories that are raw and personal. Speaking up is generous; the words have a ripple effect, helping other women make sense of their experiences and feel less alone. I remember, when interviewing women for a book on experiences of IVF, how healing it was for me to have those conversations as I was undergoing IVF — especially when their experiences mirrored mine. It felt as if the words created a link between their experience and mine, as if they were holding my hand. Over my career, I’ve applauded when women speak about subjects that were once only whispered, including miscarriage, periods, perimenopause, and addiction. It seems incomprehensible that we hardly used to talk about such things — and that’s largely thanks to the women who spoke up first.

T&H:As a longtime T&H fan and working journalist, how do you approach style in your day-to-day? What kind of clothes help you feel grounded, capable — like your best self?

In my day-to-day work life, I have a sort-of uniform: blouse or shirt, jeans or canvas trousers, and ballet pumps or boots. But when it comes to events, I’m someone who needs to know I’ve got clothes in the wardrobe. I really don’t like last-minute panic shopping. And I don’t enjoy feeling gussied up or overdone. That said, I still get shopping wrong - a lot. Which is why I like T&H. The clothes make it easy to feel dressed up and comfortable, the holy grail. I have two Gloria dresses from a couple of seasons ago. One, in a cream print, works for anything from work lunches to weddings, and the other, in a black print, dresses up for parties. Also — and this is crucial — you can eat without your stomach feeling squashed! The trouser-and-blouse co-ord I’m wearing in the pictures is the same. I'm at my Tessa's 50th at High Grange near in Devon near Lyme Regis, where the food is all cooked over fire and is ridiculously tasty. I'm wearing low wedge APC sandals, but with strappy sandals and lots of gold jewellery, it could take you anywhere. 

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