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Melissa Lavasani

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Last week, T4GMH Co-Executive Director Vance McMurry joined 150 leaders at the inaugural World Mental Health Week Leadership Summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

Hosted by the Global Mental Health Task Force, the summit brought together leaders in healthcare, research, government, veterans’ organizations, philanthropy, and media around a central message: “The mental health crisis will not be solved in silos.”

Discussions included a panel moderated by Lia Mix featuring Dr. Rachel Yehuda, Dr. Deborah Mash, and Melissa Lavasani, along with perspectives from veterans Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman (Ret.) and Col. Tim Evans.

During his keynote, Kopelman also recognized Texans for Greater Mental Health for our contributions to advancing psychedelic research and policy.

Conversations throughout the event reinforced how other states are looking to Texas as a model for research-first policy, building on the passage of HB 1802 in 2021, which marked the first state investment in psychedelic research in U.S. history, and SB 2308 in 2025, which committed $50 million to ibogaine research, representing the largest state investment in psychedelic research in history.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to participate in these conversations and continue working alongside leaders who share our commitment to advancing psychedelic research and expanding access to new treatment options for those who need them.

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The mushrooms saved her life. She’ll be the first to tell you they weren’t what saved her.

She walked out of an appointment holding a prescription and a phone number. That was the entire plan. 1 in 8 women report symptoms of depression after giving birth and more than half receive no treatment at all, so this is not a story about one unlucky patient. It’s the standard experience.

The country has spent this month arguing about what happens when maternal mental health care fails a mother. Almost none of these stories end up in a courtroom. Almost all of them end up in a kitchen at 2am with a woman deciding she’s the problem.

My guest decided she wasn’t the problem. What she did next changed her life, and then it changed the law in Washington DC.

But the part that stayed with me is what she said the real turn was. Not the medicine. Authorship. The decision that you’re allowed to run the experiment on your own life, read the results honestly, and keep going when the results say keep going.

Nobody hands you that permission. You take it.

Full interview at spreadsheetsandshamans.com, link in bio.

What’s an answer you’ve accepted that you’re still not sure about? I read every comment.

#maternalmentalhealth #postpartumdepression #womenshealth #matrescence #workingmom

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Feels like summer ☀️ 🛥️ 🏊‍♀️ @melissalava @danielconner @jbin.dc

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We’re grateful to @reploucorrea for his unwavering commitment to our nation’s veterans. Alongside @RepJackBergman, he’s helping push forward access to psychedelic therapies that could be life-saving for those who’ve served through the Innovative Therapies Centers of of Excellence. Thank you for joining us at the first ever #FederalSummitOnPsychedelicMedicine and for your continued advocacy. #VeteransDeserveBetter #PsychedelicMedicine #BipartisanHealing

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Safe on deck in DC.

Heading to the VA this morning for an 11AM briefing on the No Fallen Heroes mission—bringing psychedelic-assisted healing to the veterans our nation has forgotten. Tomorrow, I’ll be speaking at the Federal Summit on Psychedelic Medicine at the National Press Club.

As I prepare for these critical conversations, my phone’s been blowing up about the Hornet lost yesterday during landing onboard USS Truman.

That’s the third Hornet lost in this air wing since December—each mishap rare, serious, and deeply unsettling.

It brings back memories of my own workups aboard the Lincoln in the ‘90s. We lost five jets and eight aircrew before even turning west toward the Gulf.

Thank God no lives were lost in these recent incidents. But they remind us: carrier aviation is unforgiving, even in peacetime. The physical and psychological toll is very real—and often ignored.

That’s why No Fallen Heroes exists. We’re not just talking—we’re acting to heal the trauma our warriors carry.

Pray for our sailors, Marines, and aircrew still on the tip of the spear. And let’s fight like hell to help them heal when they come home.

Fight’s On!

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Trigger warning: suicide and PPD.

To be able to play with your child 💔

In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Lavasani to hear her journey through severe postpartum depression—one so deep she considered ending her life. Through discovering the healing power of psilocybin, she not only overcame PPD but also founded the @psychedelicmedicinecoalition

We discuss the science, the stigma, and our own experiences with postpartum struggles and psilocybin. This conversation left me in tears and full of hope for those still searching for a way forward.

Listen now - this one is SO powerful.

* If you or someone you know is suffering and looking for more information you can learn more @postpartumsupportinternational and if you’re interested in being a candidate for the upcoming study with RECONNECT use this link:

🔗https://reunion-ppdstudy.com/jennie

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I promise it’s not just you.

1 in 4 worldwide experience some level of post partum depression or anxiety. I’m honored to have had @melissalava on tomorrow’s podcast episode. Melissa survived severe post partum depression and her story moved me to tears. Listen tomorrow to hear how she started to see signs of hope just 3 days into a seemingly controversial treatment she discovered on her own. A treatment I feel strongly about, that I hadn’t found a way to share until now. Because there’s always a way out even if you can’t see it yet.

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🩷We invite you to an inspiring virtual event on March 6th, 2025, at 1 PM EST. Our special guests will bravely recount their personal journeys through PPD, illustrating how these experiences sparked their advocacy careers and transformed their lives. 🩵 By attending, you will not only gain valuable insights but also become part of a conversation that champions awareness and explores the future of postpartum depression treatment.

🩷Get your free ticket today, thanks to our sponsors Reunion Neuroscience and the RECONNECT STUDY. https://bit.ly/FindingHopePPD

#lunchandlearn #PPD #postpartum #postpartumdepression #maternalhealth #maternalmentalhealth #cherishedmom #reunionneuro #reconnectstudy

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Last week we gathered with an incredible community in Austin Texas for a powerful discussion on the future of psychedelic healthcare right here in Texas and across the nation! 🍄🧠✨

Some of the brightest minds in psychedelic advocacy and healthcare innovation came together to explore how psychedelic-assisted therapies are transforming mental health treatment and what’s next at both the state and federal level.

Our expert panelists included:
🔹 Melissa Lavasani – Founder & CEO of @psychedelicmedicinecoalition (PMC), leading national advocacy efforts to integrate psychedelic medicine into healthcare.
🔹 Tracy DeLuca – Founder of How Might We Design LLC, award-winning strategist and educator transforming the healthcare experience through design & education.
🔹 Logan Davidson – Executive Director of @t4gmh and Legislative Director at @veteransolutions (VETS- Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions) advocating for psychedelic policy reform & leading efforts in Texas and across the nation.

From national policy to healthcare design, treatment delivery, and grassroots advocacy, this conversation showcased the growing momentum behind psychedelic medicine and the urgent need for action.

What starts here, changes the world—and Texas is playing a key role in shaping the future of psychedelic healthcare in the U.S.

A huge thank you to the absolutely incredible panelists, Arena Hall for hosting this panel and serving a delicious lunch, and everyone who joined us for this important discussion!

Make sure to follow our page @t4gmh & sign up for our newsletter to stay informed & involved in future events (🔗 in bio). 🙏

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#psychedelichealthcare #mentalhealthreform #psychedelicmedicine #policychange #austintexas #psychedelicscience #texasmentalhealth #mentalhealthsolutions

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Today at 12pm!

The Future of Psychedelic Healthcare
📅Today Thurs, February 6th
⏰12:00 - 1:30 PM
📍Arena Hall, 1809 Pearl St, Austin, TX 78701
🎟️: 🔗 in bio

✨Meet the panelists:

🔹Melissa Lavasani is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Psychedelic Medicine Coalition (PMC), the first and only Washington DC-based, nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the research and implementation of psychedelic medicine treatments for healthcare in the United States. With a focus on national and state policy, Melissa is using her 20 years of experience in and around the government in Washington, DC, to advance the issue of psychedelics in our nation’s capital and beyond.

🔹Tracy DeLuca is the Founder and Chief Design Strategist of How Might We Design LLC. Tracy DeLuca’s award-winning work is driven by a passion to transform patient, provider, and caregiver experiences globally. To achieve this, Tracy has created large-scale business offerings and organizational transformation in healthcare, from strategy and visioning to design and implementation. Recent highlights include teaching Stanford University d.school’s first-ever class on Psychedelic Medicine and Design. She also helped lead the creation and launch of a clinically integrated behavior-change and condition management program in Singapore for people living with Type 2 diabetes. Previously, as Design Lead for Sutter Health, one of the largest non-profit healthcare systems in the U.S., serving over 3.5 million patients, Tracy helped develop Sutter’s first Design and Innovation team and led them through a multi-million dollar, system-wide new Primary Care of the Future Offering.

🔹Logan Davidson is the executive director of the nonprofit Texans for Greater Mental Health, where he leads advocacy for psychedelic therapies in Texas and serves as a key stakeholder for the Texas Ibogaine Initiative. T4GMH is the leading psychedelic advocacy, education, and engagement organization in Texas. Logan also serves on the policy and advocacy team for Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, supporting their state’s advocacy work across the United States, replicating the Texas model.

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Come join us at The Future of Psychedelic Healthcare panel event!

📅Thurs, February 6th
⏰12:00 - 1:30 PM
📍Arena Hall, 1809 Pearl St, Austin, TX 78701
🎟️: 🔗 in bio

✨Meet the panelists:

🔹Melissa Lavasani is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Psychedelic Medicine Coalition (PMC), the first and only Washington DC-based, nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the research and implementation of psychedelic medicine treatments for healthcare in the United States. With a focus on national and state policy, Melissa is using her 20 years of experience in and around the government in Washington, DC, to advance the issue of psychedelics in our nation's capital and beyond.

🔹Tracy DeLuca is the Founder and Chief Design Strategist of How Might We Design LLC. Tracy DeLuca's award-winning work is driven by a passion to transform patient, provider, and caregiver experiences globally. To achieve this, Tracy has created large-scale business offerings and organizational transformation in healthcare, from strategy and visioning to design and implementation. Recent highlights include teaching Stanford University d.school's first-ever class on Psychedelic Medicine and Design. She also helped lead the creation and launch of a clinically integrated behavior-change and condition management program in Singapore for people living with Type 2 diabetes. Previously, as Design Lead for Sutter Health, one of the largest non-profit healthcare systems in the U.S., serving over 3.5 million patients, Tracy helped develop Sutter's first Design and Innovation team and led them through a multi-million dollar, system-wide new Primary Care of the Future Offering.

🔹Logan Davidson is the executive director of the nonprofit Texans for Greater Mental Health, where he leads advocacy for psychedelic therapies in Texas and serves as a key stakeholder for the Texas Ibogaine Initiative. T4GMH is the leading psychedelic advocacy, education, and engagement organization in Texas. Logan also serves on the policy and advocacy team for Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, supporting their state's advocacy work across the United States, replicating the Texas model.

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7.2% of American adults had a major depressive episode in the past year

The U.S. spends more on prescription drugs than any other country. Antidepressants are among the most frequently used therapeutic medications in the United States.

Advancing psychedelics as medicines for healthcare has the ability to reform a system of care that is patient centered not corporation centered.

Melissa Lavasani is Founder and CEO of Washington, DC-based Psychedelic Medicine Coalition, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing the field of psychedelic medicines as healthcare through advocacy and education on a federal level. Prior to that, Melissa proposed Initiative 81, the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020, the largest ballot initiative win in Washington DC's history with 76% approval. (Even more than Rank Choice Voting 73%!) Inspired by her own experience as a professional, working mother using psychedelic medicines to overcome severe postpartum depression when the healthcare system failed her, Melissa is one of the leading voices for policy, politics, and advocacy for psychedelic medicine.

#freeluigi

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