Heroic Hearts Project and Maya PBC are partnering to generate the largest structured dataset illustrating the health outcomes of psychedelic treatments for veterans and their family members.
Heroic Hearts Project will invite all participants to track their wellness journeys using Maya’s purpose-built software platform to establish the world’s most comprehensive body of evidence for clinically valid outcomes data.
A number of recent studies have suggested that psychedelic medicines have the potential to improve the quality of life for veterans suffering from PTSD, addiction, suicidal ideation and who are struggling to reintegrate into civilian life.
The outcomes of this work can be used to influence policy, provide proof of efficacy, and most importantly, be used as part of the veteran’s integration process; illustrating the effectiveness of the treatments themselves.
COO of Heroic Hearts, Zach Riggle, commented: “We are beyond thrilled to partner with Maya in this game-changing endeavour.
“Data tells stories and Maya’s platform will enable us to tell our story in a way that will help save lives by educating veterans, providers, and legislators on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicines.”
Data collection
The Maya platform enables psychedelic researchers, providers and participants to collaboratively chart psychedelic best practices.
Its product suite includes a purpose-built Companion App for individuals, a Measurement Based Care Platform for providers, and a Real World Data Platform for both academic and commercial researchers.
The company states that by bridging the gap between psychedelic research and real-world practices, it activates true decentralized collaboration across the community.
CEO of Maya, David Champion, commented: “We believe that the only way to accelerate safe and effective, legal, psychedelic practices – for those in need of alternative solutions to some of the most urgent mental health challenges of our time – is to look beyond controlled studies and to the growing landscape of real-world psychedelic practices.
“By inviting participants to contribute their journeys to a well-structured, anonymised, and secure dataset, we hope to support amazing organisations like Heroic Hearts Project, to create the body of evidence needed to establish credibility for these treatments, to inform sensible legislation, and to garner greater funding for their communities.
“We couldn’t be more proud of and excited for this collaboration.”
Psychedelics for veterans
Since 2017, Heroic Hearts Project has been a leader in providing access to alternative therapies for veterans who suffer from military trauma. They have built a healing community centred around safe, supervised psychedelic treatments combined with professional preparation- and integration-coaching and ongoing peer support.
The organisation’s programmes currently serve more than 100 veterans annually, and it expects to double that capacity in 2023.
Heroic Hearts Project’s programmes primarily involve Ayahuasca — an Amazonian plant mixture generally consumed in a tea like brew — but some also work with ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT, psilocybin and ketamine.
The altered states induced by these medicines often enable individuals to revisit and process personal traumas in a safe, controlled setting. Many compare the experience to doing ten years of therapy in one week. To date, the organisation has funded more than $700,000 for veterans to access these treatments in countries where they are not prohibited by law.
