Together, we can transform the mental health field to improve the lives of the millions of people suffering from mental illness. 

Hello, I’m Dr. Chris Palmer.

I became a psychiatrist to help people who are suffering. For the past 30 years, I have had the privilege of working at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, one of the top-ranked psychiatric hospitals in the world.

Although I have seen countless patients benefit from our current treatments, such as medications and psychotherapy, I have also seen many patients who don’t respond to treatment at all, even when they are offered the best treatments available. This experience has led me to always question the status quo and work toward a better understanding of mental illness. Millions of people desperately need new treatment options that allow them to heal and recover.

My work now focuses on the science of mental health and metabolism. While many people think of metabolism as simply “burning calories,” it is far more than that. Metabolism is the set of processes that powers every cell in the body, allowing it to function, adapt, and heal. When these processes are disrupted, it can affect not only physical health, but also the brain and mental health itself.

In my book, Brain Energy, I propose that mental disorders are, at their core, metabolic disorders of the brain. This framework brings together decades of research across neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology, and clinical science. It offers a unified understanding of how biological, psychological, and social factors interact—and why mental and physical health are inseparable.

More importantly, this perspective opens the door to new possibilities for treatment. Instead of focusing solely on symptom management, it points toward approaches that address underlying biology and support long-term recovery.

I care deeply about this work because too many people are still suffering without answers and without real hope for recovery. Let’s work together to change that.