Heroic Hearts Project

"Veterans, first responders, mental health advocates and neuroscientists have led a national, bipartisan push to shift public perceptions about the potential psychedelics offer to improve mental health outcomes for millions of people suffering from conditions that traditional medicines and therapies have failed to help. The Heroic Hearts Project, a nonprofit helping veterans, reports that current FDA-approved treatments are helpful to fewer than 10 percent of veterans suffering from PTSD. In contrast, the group’s research with King’s College, London, “suggests that over 80 percent of veterans experience significant improvement after participating in just one psychedelic program.” #veterans #mentalhealth #traumarecovery #suicideprevention #MDMA4PTSD https://lnkd.in/gGZ-PJqM

As leading federal advocates for Veterans’ access to MDMA-Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT), we are deeply concerned by the FDA’s denial of Lykos’ NDA for MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT). This decision is not just a bureaucratic error; it is a significant setback for millions of Veterans struggling with PTSD across our nation. MDMA-AT is the most effective treatment ever developed for PTSD, a condition at the core of the Veteran suicide crisis that claims over 17 lives each day. The FDA’s decision is a missed opportunity to embrace groundbreaking science, save countless Veteran lives, and honor the sacrifices made by those who served our country. If this critical treatment remains inaccessible, we face losing an additional 6,000 Veterans to suicide this year alone—and every year thereafter. Healing Breakthrough and Heroic Hearts Project will not relent. Our commitment to advocating for this life-saving treatment is unequivocal. We will continue to push for progress, collaborate with stakeholders, and fight persistently until MDMA-AT is available to every Veteran who desperately needs and deserves it. We’ve come to expect at some point the government will make it a little easier to save our own lives but until then we will keep having these conversations and work on Oregon and take veterans overseas. https://lnkd.in/gZ4pizZC

LGBTQIA+ veterans have often faced unique challenges during their service, ranging from suppression of their true identities to targeted physical or sexual assault, bullying, name-calling, dehumanization, and even officially sanctioned punitive actions under the UCMJ. Even those who seemed to have completed their service “unscathed” were continually reminded by actions, words, and deeds that their sexual expression was considered “wrong” or “unacceptable.” Heroic Hearts Project is dedicated to creating safe spaces to support the healing journey of veterans who endured these struggles. Last month we hosted the second retreat for the LGBTQIA+ veteran community. The 7-week program included professional group and individual preparation and integration sessions, culminating in an 8-day plant medicine retreat in Central Mexico. We extend a heartfelt thank you to the Healing Hearts Changing Minds Inc team for the grant that made this essential work possible. #veterans #psychedelicassistedtherapy #mentalhealth #ptsdrecovery #suicideprevention #plantmedicine #LGBTQIA+veterans

A NEW BEGINNING The immediate effects of the retreat were undeniable. “If I showed you a picture of what I looked like a year ago at that retreat, you’d be like, it’s not the same person,” Adam recalls. The changes were not just physical but deeply emotional and psychological. He emerged with a renewed sense of purpose, self-respect, and the realization that he was capable of so much more than he had believed. Adam’s transformation didn’t end with the retreat. The integration process played a crucial role in solidifying the changes he experienced. He adopted a disciplined routine that included intermittent fasting, daily walks, mindfulness practices, and a commitment to holistic health. Over the past year, these practices have not only helped him achieve the profound physical transformation that comes with nearly 100lbs of weight loss, they’ve helped him adopt and maintain a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Adam’s gratitude for the Heroic Hearts Project is immense. “If you’re donating to Heroic Hearts, know that it is genuinely saving lives,” he affirms. The support he received has not only transformed his life but has also inspired him to give back and help others find their path to healing." #veterans #mentalhealth #ayahuasca #plantmedicine #ptsdrecovery #suicideprevention https://lnkd.in/gzJVhBBg

“We have been filming with Randy since 2018 as part of a documentary we have been working on called WHAT A TRIP following work to legalize MDMA to treat PTSD. In June, an FDA Advisory Committee panel recommended against approval, showing a lack of understanding of the science. We made this short film to support a Veteran led call urging the FDA to listen to the science and approve MDMA therapy for PTSD: ABOUT OUR FILM WHAT A TRIP is a documentary (in production since 2014) that is following the 40+ year journey to try and legalize MDMA assisted therapy. Our film includes stories of Veterans like Randy whose credit the MDMA therapy with saving their lives. Learn more about our film: www.WhatATrip.Film www.ApproveMDMAtherapy.com #approveMDMAtherapy #MDMA4PTSD #veterans #suicideprevention #ptsdrecovery https://lnkd.in/g-HEktyH

“In Lafayette Park, just steps away from the White House, 17 pairs of boots sit side by side. They symbolize a grim statistic from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: On average, 17 military veterans die by suicide each day. The art installation is part of a push by two groups — Healing Breakthrough and Heroic Hearts Project — to encourage the Food and Drug Administration to greenlight psychedelic assisted therapy for treating veterans suffering from PTSD when the agency makes a final decision on Aug. 11.” #veterans #MDMA4PTSD #psychedelicassistedtherapy #mentalhealth #traumarecovery #suicideprevemtion https://lnkd.in/g_Ak2BMS

Letter to President Biden from VSOs and Veterans Are you a U.S. veteran? Sign this letter by July 24th in support of the approval of MDMA-assisted therapy. #veterans #MDMA4PTSD #mentalhealth #ptsdrecovery #suicideprevention #psychedelicassistedtherapy Healing Breakthrough Juliana Mercer https://lnkd.in/gncQnnkx

Read about our Oregon program! We continue to fight for veterans’ access to effective treatments on multiple fronts, whether it’s ayahuasca in Peru, psilocybin in Oregon, or MDMA through the VA, vets deserve every tool available. #ActionOverWords https://lnkd.in/giS4xsQJ

The FDA has the opportunity to follow the science and support veterans by approving MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. This week, Medal of Honor recipient, Dakota Meyer, bipartisan members of Congress, and veterans gathered to remind this country what is at stake in this decision. Please watch and share this one-minute summary of our congressional press conference on MDMA-therapy where we honored 150,000 veteran lives lost to suicide. Our nation's heroes demand action. #EnoughIsEnough #MDMA4PTSD https://lnkd.in/ghZMFCjX

We are honored to have showcased such a heartfelt tribute at the U.S. Capitol alongside @HBveterans. Thank you to everyone who participated and reminded us why prioritizing veterans’ mental health is crucial and why the @US_FDA should approve MDMA-assisted therapy. #MDMA4PTSD