In 2022, Nushama conducted a national study on mental health, unveiling some surprising statistics. Drawing from a diverse sample of 1,300 Americans, this survey focuses on their attitudes toward mental health and the use of psychedelics as a potential solution. Read on to digest the most impactful findings we pulled from this study.
Over 1/4 of Americans describe their mental health as challenging.
Approximately 8% of Americans describe their mental health as “Very challenging – Dealing with my mental health has never been more difficult”. Next, 20% describe their mental health as “Challenging – I struggle with mental health issues regularly”. Only 38% describe their mental health as “Good” or “Great” and 34% feel that their mental health is just “Ok”.
Only 1/5 of Americans are totally open to talking about their mental health.
A majority of Americans feel that mental health issues are either taboo, sensitive, or need to be talked about more widely. Psychedelic therapy encourages openness through exploring emotions and integration of the experience to get to the root of the problem.
More than 1/3 of Americans take anti-depression and anti-anxiety medications.
This data shows 20% of Americans take antidepressants and 17% take anti-anxiety medications which equates to 37%, over 1/3 of Americans surveyed.
More than 1/2 of Americans feel psychiatry and psychopharmacology are not helping our current mental health crisis.
The survey shows 67% of Americans feel that the current state of psychiatry and psychopharmacology is failing, making things worse or below satisfactory. Only 23% are in favor of the current system and 11% have no opinion.
Over 1/4 of Americans said they would try psychedelic therapy for a health benefit.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy can help improve quality of life in a number of areas. It’s promising to see that 27% of Americans would consider psychedelics to improve their overall health.
1 in 4 Americans is interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
An estimated 26% of Americans are “Definitely interested” or “Somewhat interested” in receiving psychedelic-assisted therapy as a treatment for mental health. We are hopeful that this number will continue to increase as more information is released on the safety and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy!
Why Psychedelics?
Psychedelic therapy is a rapidly emerging field that is attracting more attention and interest from people seeking mental health treatment. Unlike traditional mental health treatments, which often rely on prescription drugs and talk therapy, psychedelic therapy involves the use of mind-altering substances to help patients explore their emotions and experiences.
People are becoming more open to this approach due to the growing body of research suggesting its effectiveness and the increasing availability of trained professionals and legal access to psychedelics. As a result, psychedelic therapy is gaining traction as a potentially transformative option for those seeking healing and personal growth. As more mainstream media publish stories about psychedelic medicine and popular authors like Michael Pollan make these resources more accessible with titles like “How to Change Your Mind,” the possibilities for a positive mental health impact are on the rise.
