Landmark Study Confirms Psychedelic Retreats Improve Mental Health, Reintegration, and Quality of Life for Veterans
A major new study published in Brain and Behavior provides evidence on something Heroic Hearts has long believed: therapeutic, well-supported psychedelic retreats can catalyze deep healing for veterans.
This is the largest peer-reviewed observational study of its kind, following 58 U.S. and U.K. veterans who attended psilocybin or ayahuasca retreats. The research was conducted alongside Imperial College London and supported by a multidisciplinary team across institutions including King’s College LondonUniversity of Edinburgh, and UCSF’s Neuroscape. We’re especially proud that Heroic Hearts Project’s Director of Research, Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley, played an indispensable role in shaping this research, designing participant support protocols, screening, ensuring the study aligned with veterans’ needs and supporting the analysis and publication of results.
Following the retreat experiences conducted by Heroic Hearts Project from 2021 – 2024 (some in partnership with Beckley Retreats), veterans experienced a 29% reduction in depression scores and a 26% reduction in PTSD symptoms. They also showed significant improvements in anxiety, sleep, post-concussion symptoms, and quality of life, as well as greater emotional well-being, a stronger sense of connection, and increased reintegration into civilian life. These effects were statistically significant and ranged from medium to very large in magnitude. Veterans with the most severe symptoms saw the greatest improvements. While both psilocybin and ayahuasca produced benefits, psilocybin retreats were associated with broader mental health gains overall, while ayahuasca was slightly more effective for reducing PTSD. Some gender-based trends also emerged, though the small number of female participants limits broader conclusions.
Heroic Hearts Project was central to this research. We recruited, screened, and prepared all veteran participants for the retreats, and provided integration coaching both before and after the retreat. Heroic Hearts partners with retreat center partners like Beckley Retreats to ensure safe, legal delivery of psilocybin and ayahuasca. The retreats were co-funded by Heroic Hearts Project (U.S.), Heroic Hearts UK, and Beckley Retreats.
This research is an exciting validation of the Heroic Hearts approach, and a call to expand access to psychedelic care for the veteran community. Veterans continue to face high barriers to treatment and elevated rates of mental health challenges, often without effective long-term solutions. These results show that psychedelic-assisted retreats, delivered with care and integrity, can be a powerful tool for healing and reintegration.
We’re deeply grateful to Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley, Imperial College London and the wider research team, our partners at Beckley Retreats, and to the veterans who trusted us with their healing journeys. Your courage continues to shape the future of mental health care for generations to come.