Individuals Shared Personal Stories in Advance of Hearing to Consider Regulated Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics
BOSTON, MA, March 26, 2024 – Today, Massachusetts for Mental Health Options hosted a press conference in support of a November 2024 ballot question proposing the creation of a regulated therapeutic framework for natural psychedelic substances. Speakers shared personal stories about the profound impacts psychedelic therapy has had on individuals suffering from PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
One in three Massachusetts residents struggles with their mental health, and deaths of despair are on the rise. Studies from Johns Hopkins, Harvard Medical School, and many other leading research institutions show that natural psychedelic medicines paired with therapeutic support can help people with severe depression and other mental health challenges.
Massachusetts for Mental Health Options (MMHO) is supporting a 2024 ballot question to create a responsible, regulated program for therapeutic access to natural psychedelics. Through this initiative we can bring these tools to people facing terminal illness, veterans, first responders, and others who deserve access to healing.
Highlights from Today’s Press Conference
Judi Fitts, a psilocybin client and patient, discussed the healing capabilities of psychedelic care and how they improved her quality of life, “Psilocybin psychedelic therapy absolutely has eased my fears and made living with cancer and PTSD much more manageable.”
Sarko Gergerian, an active law enforcement officer, will emphasize the potential mental health benefits for first responders, stating: “Police officers are exposed to over 200 critical incidents in their careers, leading to increased rates of suicide and mental health issues. Psychedelics have shown promise in treating conditions like PTSD and depression.”
Emily Oneschuk, a US Navy veteran and grassroots campaign director, shared her transformative experience with psychedelics, echoing sentiments of hope for others who stand to benefit: “I know these substances work not just because of the myriad of research on the topic but because I have very personal firsthand experience with them. I found plant medicine as a last resort after exhausting the mental health resources provided to me by the military and VA.”
Peter Lakov, a psilocybin client and parent, discussed the positive psychological benefits psilocybin mushrooms have had for him and commented, “Given their beneficial properties for helping with a wide array of mental health challenges, I am strongly in favor of giving access to those medicines for the benefits of our fellow citizens and our society as a whole.”
Jenny Chen Robertson, an advocate for psychedelic hearing, detailed her experience going through the training required for psychedelic facilitators in Oregon and emphasized, “I believe moving forward on mental health care is a collective societal responsibility. The research is clear. When implemented in a safe, therapeutic, facilitated manner, psychedelics can yield results to help so many that are suffering.”
Together, these stories offer compelling evidence for the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.