Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth

Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth

  • Ages 18+

Are we chemically imbalanced? Professor Joanna Moncrieff unpacks the view that depression is caused by an imbalance of serotonin.

By Reconnect Club

Date and time

Wednesday, May 14 · 6:15 - 7:45pm GMT+1.

Location

City Gate House

22 Southwark Bridge Road London SE1 9HF United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 1 day before event

About this event

  • Event lasts 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Ages 18+

Being told my depression was caused by a serotonin imbalance robbed me of hope when medical treatments failed. During this dark time, I discovered Joanna’s work through Johann Hari’s book Lost Connections, which helped me realise my brain might not be broken as my doctor had suggested. Joanna’s insights restored my hope and opened new paths to healing.

Hosting Joanna for a talk about her incredible new book, Chemically Imbalanced, is an honour, and I’m confident it will inspire others to find hope and new ways to grow from depression. Joe Tudor (Reconnect Founder).


About the Talk


Join renowned psychiatrist Joanna Moncrieff for a thought-provoking journey through the history of the serotonin theory of depression, from its origins in the 1960s to its widespread acceptance in the 1990s. With clarity and compelling evidence, Moncrieff exposes how scientific understanding has been swayed by social and economic forces, leading to misconceptions that have shaped treatment decisions for millions.


This talk is essential for anyone seeking to make more informed choices about their mental health and understand the forces that shape the way we perceive and treat depression today.


Joanna will be taking questions and signing books at the end of the talk.


About the Speaker

Joanna Moncrieff is Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London, and a consultant psychiatrist for the NHS. In 2022 she was the lead author of a landmark study into the theory of serotonin and depression.


She is a founder member and co-chairperson of the Critical Psychiatry Network, an influential network of psychiatrists and other doctors. She has written for The Guardian, Daily Mail, The Conversation, Literary Review, and has been interviewed for The Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast and the Evening Standard’sTech and Science Daily, amongst others.


Event Details


  • Date: Wednesday 14th May, 2025
  • Time: 18: 15- 19:45 (Doors Open at 18:00)
  • Location: Sandbox Workspaces, City Gate House, SE1 9HF
  • Price: Free/Donation-based (Sandbox Members: included in membership)


If the free tickets have sold out and you're not able to attend for financial reasons, please contact Joe via email at contact@reconnectwellnessclub.com.


Important Note


This is a space for sharing tools and ways we can grow from depression. It is not a therapy session or a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are currently experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts, this event may not be appropriate for you right now. Please do seek crisis support, some organisations offering help are The Listening Place, The Samaritans and the NHS.


We're also not able to accomodate under 18's, even with supervision. The talks aren't appropriate for children.


Reserve Your Spot Below


Join us in growing a community focused on connection and growth!

Organized by

£0 – £29.96