Psilocybin and Mental Health

I didn’t set out to learn about mushrooms—I started by paying closer attention to what people were going through. In the years leading up to 2020, I began noticing more conversations around anxiety, depression, and burnout in my own circles. When the pandemic hit, those conversations became impossible to ignore. It felt like something deeper was happening, and I found myself wanting to better understand what people were carrying—and whether the ways we support mental health were truly keeping up.

A few years later, Kyle and I found ourselves in ongoing conversations about how veterans were beginning to explore integrative approaches to mental health. As a veteran, he brought a personal lens to those discussions, and it quickly became something we were both genuinely interested in understanding.

As I started digging further, I began to see patterns that were hard to overlook:

• 76% of middle-aged Americans report moderate to high levels of loneliness, with loneliness being a stronger predictor of early mortality than obesity (Lee et al., 2018)

• Suicide rates in the U.S. have steadily increased since 2000 (CDC, 2018)

• Depression rates have been rising in adults since 2013 (Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2018)

• During the height of COVID-19, significantly elevated mental health challenges and suicidal ideation were reported—especially among younger adults, essential workers, and caregivers (CDC, 2020)

  
  

Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I overheard a podcast that mentioned mushrooms being explored for mental health. It caught my attention. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but it stayed with me. I started doing some digging (pun intended), and what I found opened the door to a much larger conversation.

Mushrooms—specifically psilocybin-containing mushrooms—have gained increasing attention in recent years for their potential role in mental health care. While still being studied, research has focused on a few key areas:

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Psilocybin is being researched for its potential to support individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Early studies suggest it may help create meaningful shifts in mood, perspective, and emotional processing, which is why it continues to be explored in clinical settings.

Microdosing

There is also growing interest in microdosing—taking very small, sub-perceptual amounts of psilocybin—with some individuals reporting improvements in mood, creativity, and overall well-being. This area is still less understood and continues to be studied.

A 2022 study from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that psilocybin-assisted treatment significantly reduced symptoms of major depressive disorder in adults, with effects that may last up to a year. As researcher Roland Griffiths noted:

“Psilocybin not only produces significant and immediate effects, it also has a long duration, which suggests that it may be a uniquely useful new treatment for depression… [with] the potential to enduringly relieve symptoms with one or two treatments.”

At the same time, it’s important to approach this space with both curiosity and care. Much of this research is still in early or controlled stages, access is limited, and legal frameworks vary widely. Experiences can differ greatly from person to person, and these therapies are not one-size-fits-all.

For me, learning about psilocybin wasn’t about finding a quick solution—it was the beginning of asking better questions. It opened my perspective to what integrative mental health care could look like, and how we might better support people—especially veterans and their families—in navigating healing, connection, and purpose.

— Jenn

*The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you have any concerns about your health or the use of mushrooms for any purpose, consult with a healthcare professional for guidance tailored to your specific situation.