Organisation for the Prevention of Intense Suffering (OPIS)

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗦 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 OPIS is running an autumn fundraiser, as the support of private donors is crucial for our mission. As you probably know, we have been successfully advocating for better access to medications to treat severe pain, including from excruciating cluster headaches, and this work is ongoing. We take a strong stance against the abuse and torture of animals, and will be focusing even more on this area of huge moral importance, including in our engagement with the global citizens' assembly network. We are currently preparing a "Guide to Compassionate Governance", drawing on the wisdom from several fields of expertise to highlight effective strategies and policies, which we will publish and communicate widely in 2025. We are also currently carrying out a unique, large-scale study to collect data on the suffering people experience due to a wide range of life conditions, which we will publish as part of a larger overview of human and animal suffering on our planet and approaches to mitigating it. We expect to have significant impact through the adoption of some of the concrete ideas we are promoting. If you feel called to support our work, this is much appreciated! https://lnkd.in/dMcE8rGE Note: if you leave a donation, there is no need to leave a tip for GoFundMe - you can slide it to 0!

𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗦 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆: 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 OPIS has just launched a survey to collect data on the intensity and duration of suffering associated with a wide range of diseases and life conditions. The survey is part of a project to provide a more comprehensive overview of human and non-human suffering on our planet. While pain and suffering are often evaluated numerically in clinical settings, we think this initiative is novel in the attempt to collect data across many different conditions, with a specific focus on the phenomenon of suffering. We plan to submit our findings to a scientific publication in addition to communicating them as part of the larger overview. We would appreciate your help in filling out the survey if you are currently suffering significantly, or have in the past, from any condition or life situation. We would also appreciate your sharing it with any friends, family, acquaintances or colleagues who are suffering from a particular condition and may also be interested in contributing to this research project. This is the link: https://lnkd.in/d-v_Udg8 Many thanks for your support!

OPIS today sent off a press release announcing the good news that, as a result of a partnership we initiated 3 years ago with TheraPsil, Health Canada has provided legal access to psilocybin for the first cluster headache patient. Canada now joins Switzerland as one of the few countries where cluster headache patients have been explicitly authorised to use psychedelics outside of clinical trials. We are hopeful that the barriers to access will continue to fall, in Canada and elsewhere, so that all patients with this horrific condition can rapidly and legally access treatment with psychedelics, and also self-administer them if they choose. Link to the press release: https://lnkd.in/d7w9ZWdW

Peace in Israel-Palestine currently seems as far away as ever. Every day brings more violence and more intense suffering. But there is a network of peace-builders who haven't lost hope and are working to promote a practical vision that will meet the needs of both populations. On Wednesday, 17 January at 16.00 Jerusalem time, we will be hosting a webinar with four of these visionaries. The panel discussion will last about one hour and be followed by a 30-minute Q&A. Join us at this link: https://bit.ly/zoomco17