Happy Hump Day, Shit Givers.
Coming off the heels of Memorial Day, and the end of Mental Health Awareness Month, I’ve been thinking about veteran mental health. Veterans have a suicide rate that’s roughly twice that of the general population, and the VA mental health system is actively being hollowed out.
On the other hand, policy is starting to slowly move in some positive directions, with recent executive orders to fast-track psychedelic therapy for veterans.
Let’s get into it.
— Willow
The safety net has holes
Positions: Mental health parity enforcement
More than 140,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001. That’s roughly twice the rate of the general population. The VA mental health system is the primary safety net, but it’s being dismantled.
Here’s what you can do:
Tell your reps to support the Mental Health Outreach for Veterans Act, which would expand outreach to veterans who aren’t currently receiving VA care (who account for 61% of veteran suicides). (go)
Illinois: your legislature has already passed a veteran suicide prevention bill. Urge the Governor to sign it. (go)
Donate to The Headstrong Project, which provides completely free mental health treatment to post-9/11 veterans, no red tape, no waitlists. (go)
If you or a veteran you know is in crisis: call or text 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7. (go)
The psychedelic treatment breakthrough
Positions: Mental health parity enforcement
Psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD is working, and in a rare moment of bipartisan agreement, policy is starting to catch up.
In April, Trump signed an executive order committing at least $50 million to ibogaine research, and directed the FDA to create an access pathway for investigational psychedelic drugs. A Stanford study of 30 special operations veterans with a traumatic brain injury found significant improvements in PTSD, depression, and anxiety after a single ibogaine session, with no serious side effects. And, the VA is now expanding psychedelic-assisted therapy trials.
Look, we know: Trump signing something and it being good are not always the same thing, but the science here is real, the veteran community is behind it, and the policy momentum is worth pushing. Several states have bills in conference committee or on a Governor’s desk as we speak.
Find your state:
Colorado: ibogaine research bill is on the Governor’s desk. Call now. (go)
New Hampshire: ibogaine research bill is in conference committee today (May 27th). (go)
Louisiana: a psychedelic therapy bill is in conference committee. (go)
Georgia: a bill for psychedelic therapy for veterans has passed the House, and is now in the Senate. (go)
Missouri: also has a psychedelic therapy bill for veterans that has passed the House, and is now in the Senate. (go)
Iowa: another psychedelic therapy bill for veterans that has passed the House and is now in the Senate. (go)
Not your state? Support the research directly:
From service to the streets
Positions: Housing First for homelessness, Housing costs capped at 30% of income for assistance recipients
We covered homelessness and the housing crisis in last week’s issue, but it needs to be noted that mental health and housing aren’t separate issues, especially for veterans. Homelessness is one of the key risk factors for veteran suicide, and veterans are significantly overrepresented in the unhoused population.
The combination of PTSD, difficulty translating military skills to civilian jobs, loss of community and structure, and medical debt creates a pipeline from service to instability.
Here’s what you can do:
Tell your reps to support the Prevent Homelessness Act of 2025, which would create an emergency housing stabilization fund for the lowest income renters and homeowners, including veterans. (go)
Support the Housing Is A Human Right Act, which funds communities pursuing alternatives to criminalizing homelessness. (go)
Donate to the National Coalition for the Homeless, which advocates for affordable housing and services for unhoused people. (go)
Back On My Feet works specifically with veterans in shelters and recovery facilities, using running and walking to build community and break cycles of poverty and addiction. (go)
And another thing!
PTSD and veteran mental health are global crises. Canada’s Senate recently called for immediate psychedelic research for veterans, and Australia has already authorized psilocybin and MDMA therapy.
This is a worldwide movement. Conflict zones around the world leave veterans, civilians, and entire communities carrying trauma with little to no access to mental health infrastructure.
Here’s what you can do:
That’s it for this week, and for Mental Health Awareness Month.
Thank you — as always — for giving a shit.
— Willow
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